LIBRARY OF. CONGRESS 



•■ Shelf,..:);,', H 



UxXITED STATES OfTmerjca. 



BY / 

JOSEPH J. WHITE, 

A PBACTICAL GBOWEB, 



NEW AND ENLARGED EDITION* 



ILLUSTRATED. 




NEW YORK: 

JUDD CO., DAVID W. JUDD, Preset. 

751 BROADWAY, 

1886. 



Entered, according to Act of Congi*ess, in the year 1885, by the 
ORANGE JUDD COMPANY, 
lu the Office of the Librarian of Congress, at Washington, 



PREFACE TO NEW EDITION. 



With the assistance of some of our most successful 
growers, the writer has endeavored to fnrnish a few facts 
for the guidance of those who are inexperienced in Cran- 
berry Culture. A very small percentage of the land in 
any country is adapted to the growth of the Cranberry, 
and as the most experienced growers frequently fail in 
selecting locations, beginners are advised to proceed cau- 
tiously until their ground has been practically tested, and 
to observe closely the effects of drainage, flowage, etc., 
as it is impossible to prescribe rules for the management 
of every location. J. J. White. 

New Lisbon, N. January, 1885. 



PREFACE TO FIEST EDITION. 



in view of the rapidly increasing demand for a reliable 
guide, or text-book for the cranberry culturist, Ave have 
attempted, with the liberal aid of some of our most suc- 
cessful growers, to prepare such a work. 

Our aim has been to embody, in a plain and concise 
manner, all the useful and practical facts which study and 
experience have yielded to the inquiring cranberry grower 
of the present time. The business has increased enor- 
mously within the last ten years, and knowledge and ex- 
perience have kept pace with that increase. The insuf- 
ficiency of the works upon this subject, \\ hich we have 
hitherto taken as books of reference, is very apparent. 

We have endeavored to make this work as comprehen- 
sive as possible, and we trust it will prove an efficient 
guide to all who may have cause to consult its pages. 

J. J. W. 

Jtjliitstowx, Burlington Co., N. J., 
Marrh, 1870. 

4 



CONTENTS. 



»Ct^ 

CHAPTER I. 

Natural History " T 

CHAPTER II. 

History of Cultivation 19 

CHAPTER III. 

Choice of Locations 25 

CHAPTER IV. 

Preparing the Ground 35 

CHAPTER v. 

Planting the Vines 50 

CHAPTER VI. 

Management of ^Feadows 57 

CHAPTER Vll. 

Flooding 64 

CHAPTER VIII. 

Enemies and Difficulties 71 

CHAPTER IX. 

Picking ..... ... 85 

CHAPTER X. 

Keeping 91 

CHAPTER XI. 

Profit and Loss 96 

CHAPTER XII. 

Letters from Practical Growers 100 

APPENDIX. 

Insects Injurious to the Cranberry 113 

A New Vine-worm . . 123 

The Scald or Rot 125 

(5) 



INDEX TO ILLUSTRATIONS. 

Bell Cranberry Page 9 

^ugle 11 

Cherry " 13 

Section of Heath Pond. 30 

Feather-leaf— Cassandra calyculata. 31 

Section of Swamp 32 

Section of Savanna. 33 

Section of Mill -Pond. . . 34 

Bill-hook 36 

Cutting and Paring Turf. 37 

Main and Side Drains 38 

Sanding a Meadow 39 

Trenching for Sand 42 

Sphagnum Moss and Cranberries. 43 

Turf Cutter 44 

Section of a Turf Fence , 46 

Plants on Clean and Rooty Surfaces 48 

Planting in Strips 48 

Planting in Hills 52 

Planting in Drills • 53 

Proper Position of Vines 53 

Incorrectly Planted ^ 

Correctly Planted 54 

Planting by Pressure 55 

Double-seeded Millet .59 

Levelling • ^ 

Dam Supported by Turf 67 

Flood-gate 69 

Embankment Supported by a Turf Fence 

Work of the Fruit-worm "^'^ 

The Vine- worm and its Work 

Portable Fan 86 

Peck Box ^ 

Cranberry Fan 93 

6 



CRANBERRY CULTURE. 



CHAPTER I. 
NATURAL HISTORY. 

The Cranberry is supposed to have been so named 
from the appearance of its bud. Just before expanding 
into the perfect flower, the stem, calyx and petals resem- 
ble the neck, head and bill of a crane — hence the name, 
" craneberry," or "cranberry." According to botanical 
classification, the Cranberry belongs to the Xatural Order 
Ericaceae, or Heath Family, and to the genus Vaccinium. 
Bilberries and whortleberries also belong to the same 
genus. There are two species of Cranberry growing 
within our territory — the Small Cranberry, Vccccinium 
Oxycocciis, and the Large, or American Cranberry, Vac- 
cinmm macrocarpon. 

The runners of the V, Oxy coccus are very slender, 
being from four to nine inches long. The leaves are about 
one-fourth of an inch long, ovate, with strongly re volute 
margins. The Small Cranberry is found in the peat bogs 
of Xew England and Pennsylvania, and westward to 
Wisconsin, and northward. 
7 



8 



CRANBERRY CULTURE. 



C. L. Flint speaks of having observed it in the swamps 
of Provincetown, Massachusetts, where it is called the 
" Spice Cranbei ry ;" it is also found in South America, 
and on the vast steppes of Russia, also occasionally in the 
wastes of Siberia. 

The V, Oxy coccus flowers in June. The berries are 
about one-fourth inch in diameter^ and often speckled 
with white when young ; owing to its small size and acrid 
flavor, this species is seldom gathered for the market. It 
is said that in Sweden, the acid juice of tins berry was 
formerly used to boil silver plate in, that it might eat off 
the minute particles of copper alloy. 

The macrocarpon puts forth stems or runners vary- 
ing from one foot to six feet or more in length. The 
tendency of these runners is to trail upon the ground, and 
send down numerous little roots to draw up moisture and 
nourishment for the flowering branches which ascend 
from the runners, at frequent intervals, to the height of 
from three to twelve inches. The leaves are oblong, 
about half an inch in length, and are covered with a 
whitish bloom underneath. 

The Y. macrocarpon also flowers in June, producing 
berries varying from one-fourth to one inch in diameter; 
these are of a light green color while growing, but when 
ffdly ripe^ of a bright crimson, or carmine color. It is a 
native of North America, and is found growing naturally 
in the peat bogs of Virginia, and westward to Minnesota, 
also northward, and abundantly in the British Posses- 
sions. In Minnesota and Wisconsin it gro-vG extensively, 
being gathered in large quantities by the Indians. 

Its favorite resorts are swamps and morasses containing 
rich bottoms of decomposed vegetable matter, commonly 
called muck, or peat. These swamps are apt to be flood- 
ed during every wet term, especially in winter and early 
spring ; but in the growing season they attain some degree 
of dryness^ without which the vines will not flourish. 




1* 



10 



CRANBERRY CULTURE. 



This is not apparent at first sight, as the vines appear to 
be growing in the water ; but upon closely examining 
phmts growing in a wet swamp, the roots will be found 
not penetrating the muck, as was at first supposed, but 
entwining themselves among the sphagnum moss above 
it (see fig. 14). The water settling away at certain seasons 
of the year leaves the moss comparatively dry, although 
it possesses the property of retaining sufl[icient moisture 
to support the plants, even in the dryest times. 

ANALYSIS. 

An analysis of this fruit was made, some years ago, by 
Professor E. N. Horsford, of Cambridge, with the follow- 
ing results in one hundred parts : 



Water 88.78 

Ash , 17 

Woody fibre, organic acids, etc 11.05 



100.00 

Percentage of potash in the ash 42.67 

" soda " 1.17 



The berries were dried in a steam chamber at 212° F., 
and from these the ash determined by slow combustion 
in a platinum crucible. 

The qualitative analysis of the ash indicated the pres- 
ence of the following substance':;, viz. : Potassa, soda, 
lime, magnesia, sesquioxide of iron, sesquioxide of man- 
ganese, sulphuric acid, chlorine, silicic acid, carbonic 
acid, phosphoric acid, charcoal and sand. 

From this analysis it will be seen that only seventeen 
one-hundredths, or less than two-tenths of one per cent 
of the Cranberry are found in the ash, as inorganic matter 
derived from the soil, all the rest being derived from the 
atmosphere and from water. 

" The results of experience are, therefore,'^ says Flint, 

strikingly corroborated by the deductions of science. 



12 



CBAXBEREY CULTUEE. 



that the Cranberry will erow where nothmg else vrWl. It 
explains, to: . :-0w it is tr.at it seems to require little for its 
perfect development but air and water." 

The American Cranberry is divided, by writers upon 
this subject, into three varieties. 

1st. The Bell Cranberry (fig. li.— This variety is so 
named be^jause of its resemblance to a bell in shane. 

2d. The Busfle Cranherry ifig. 2). was so called from 

its resemblance lo a bugle bead, being elongated, and ap- 
proaching in shape to an oval. 

3d. The Cherry Cranberry 'fig. 3) is spherical in form, 
and somewhat similar in shape, size, and color to the 
cherry, trorn which it derives its name. 

These varieties are lo be known only by their fruits; 
the difierenoe in the appearance or growth of the vines 
being in -u in c lent to di-:'.nguish tbem. Although the dif- 
ferent f'rrns. previ-^usly -iescribed. are distinct, and wed 
rnarke'i. ont- plant producing one variety only, yet cran- 
berries are foun-l existing in ail the intenneiiate shapes 
between th-se : for instance, the Bell and t;.e Ciierry cran- 
berries are distinctly rnarkr':!. but many specimens are 
found bearing so much resemblance xo both, that one 
could not tell to which \-ariety they belonged. 

Titere are. apparent!}', difierent ^'arieties of' vines also, 
some being Icwer and more trailing than others, but even 
these low vines pr-'-ince fruit of various qualities. The 
largest cranberries we have yet seen — 'oeing about one 
inch in diameter — b-longed to the Bell variety, and were 
grown upon vines ''A tt.'s character. C'riginally <:djtamed 
from a natural bog by John Webb. 

Other characteristics exist beside the -hape of tiie fruit, 
characteristics which are much mc're imqtortant, iC' be 
obsers'ed by the grower : frr instance, if one g'^-es into 
the market with the view - f s iiing a ] jt 'cf cranberries, 
the question is not TThat -^hapt are they ? 'rait rather, 
Are they well colored/ or. Are they ^>f go. -i / 



14 



CRANBEERY CULTURE. 



Color IS the quality most regarded ; light colored fruit 
is suspected of being unripe. Color affects the price 
from $1 to $3 per barrel, the darkest fruit bringing 
the highest price. Dark berries are the most attractive, 
but pale ones are not always unripe. The fruit of an 
undescribed New Jersey variety is cream-colored when 
fully ripe, and remains so. It is large, a good keeper, 
and inviting on the table. 

Many berries which ultimately turn red, are very light- 
colored at picking time, while others at that time are 
entirely red. Those disposed to become red, remain 
light-colored if shaded by the matted vines. There is a 
marked difference in the time of coloring of berries that 
are alike in shape and grown under the same conditions. 

This fact renders the selection of vines for planting an 
important matter, since a small portion of light-colored 
berries will, if not removed, seriously affect the sale of 
the whole lot. 

Vines producing red berries, ripening uniformly, are 
very desirable ; but there is no way of selecting the best 
vines, except by a knowledge of the fruit they produce, 
and this should be had, if possible, before using them. 

In Xew Jersey and the Western States, but little atten- 
tion has been given to the selection of vines for planting. 
Some years ago, a variety was discovered on Cape Cod, 
Mass., and called Early Black." This has been ex- 
tensively propagated on the Cape. It is dark red, matures 
several weeks earlier than the ordinary varieties, and 
commands the highest prices in the early market. 

It is also an important matter, in transplanting vines, 
to secure those yielding large- sized berries, for the reason 
that fine, showy fruit is at a premium in the markets, 
and will always command the highest prices. 

The appearance of one's marketing has very much to 
do with the price obtained for it in large cities, most of 
the inhabitants of which have but a slight acquaintance 



NATURAL HISTOKT. 



1.3 



with the different varieties of fruits or vegetables. The 
best looking are selected first ; reasoning by analogy, they 
conclude that the largest and fairest must necessarily be 
the best, but in this they frequently err. Those varieties 
of fruit which are finest, and possess the highest flavor, 
are generally of medium size. We know of no especial 
difference in the flavor of cranberries, whether they be 
large or small. But the small varieties are certainly the 
best keepers, and also the heaviest, they being almost 
solid, while the largest sorts are quite hollow. 

It has been asserted by writers upon this subject that 
there are two kinds of cranberry vines, viz., the produc- 
tive, and the barren ; or, as B. Eastwood terms them, the 
" healthy, and the unhealthy vine." He says : " The 
healthy vine, as far as we have been able to discover, pre- 
sents an appearance of greenish-brown on the leaf; the 
spears and runners are fine and thin, remarkable for their 
wiry nature and aspect. They seem of stunted growth, 
but form beautiful and tufted groups of spears in their 
process of matting. The unhealthy vine appears alto- 
gether brighter and stronger, and hence, from this pecu- 
liarity, some are apt to be mistaken ; for instance, a prac- 
tical grower was disappointed in finding his most luxuriant 
vines, and those from which he had expected the best 
returns, barren. ' The barren vines,' said he, ' looked 
greener, had more bushy leaves and stronger or thicker 
spears than those which produced the most fruit.' I felt 
confident, from their appearance, that they were the best 
vines I ever saw ; but I lived to find out that these signs, 
which I took to indicate the productiveness of the plant, 
were only symptoms of disease^ which disease means 

Another failure, resulting from the same cause^ has been 
brought to our notice. 

A farmer near Bristol, Pa., desiring to cultivate cran- 
berries, procured vines from several reliable growers in 



16 



CRANBERRY CULTURE. 



New Jersey and Massachusetts, and planted tliem in low, 
rich, meadow ground, which to him seemed suitable for 
them. They were caretully tended, and the growth was 
most luxuriant, but there was no fruit. Supposing a cover- 
ing of sand would check the growth, he procured some at 
heavy expense, and spread it over them; still they 
remained barren, and after several years of unfruitfulness, 
were offered to a New Jersey grower for setting out a new 
bed. But the appearance of the vines condemned them; 
they had become almost as thick as pea vines, and the 
grower would not accept them., even gratuitously. Per- 
haps the only way of making this patch fruitful would 
have been to have covered the vines, during several suces- 
sive winters, with as much clear sand ns they would grow 
through, until a covering of six or eight inches had been 
placed upon the original soil. 

W e have visited hundreds of acres of cultivated cranber- 
ry meadows, the vines for which were taken indiscrimin- 
ately from natural bogs, without reference to their kind or 
quality, and we have yet to see the first square rod of 
barren vines, tlie cause of which could not be traced to 
the soil on which they were growing. 

Barrenness may result from two causes, viz., the soil 
may be too rich in vegetable matter, or it may he too 
poor. 

The cranberry plant, like many others, if put on very 
strong land, will run to vine, and produce little or no 
fruit. The sweet potato, for instance, sometimes makes a 
great show upon the surface during the growing season, 
without yielding, when harvested, the abundant crop 
that its vines seemed to promise. 

Generally speaking, where we hear of barren vines, we 
hear of a luxuriant growth. Productive vines, of good 
repute, have, to our certain knowledge, become fruitless 
by being placed under circumstances most favorable for 
their growth and development, 



NATI KAL HISTORY. 



17 



There are two remedies for an over-abundant growth of 
vine ; viz., sand and Avater, of which we will speak more 
fully hereafter. 

Another cause of unfruitfalness may be the extreme 
poverty of the soil. Sand is sometimes so deficient in 
vegetable matter as to produce little or no vine, and 
when this is the case, much fruit cannot bo expected. 

As before stated, the Cranberry grows naturally on 
moist bottoms ; and soils of this character are the only 
ones upon which it can be cultivated profitably, although 
designing nurserymen have asserted to the contrary, with 
the view of disposing of their plants. By way of illus- 
tration we give the following, taken from the catalogue 
of an old established nursery : 

The True Cape Cod variety^ now offered, is by far 
the best in cultivation, and succeeds best in uplands. 
There are several sorts in the market, known as the 
Bell," the Cherry," and many other fancy names, 
which do not compare with this, in real, practical value. 
Plants^ packed with great care^ $2 per 100, $10 per 1,000." 
To complete the deception, they quote a writer in the 
Maine Farmer, who says : " My crop, grow^n on loam^ in 
1863, was at the rate of 453 bushels per acre." Other 
statements are also made in the catalogue, which are cal- 
culated to mislead the unsuspecting or ignorant, and in- 
duce them to pay enormous prices for plants which will 
be of little or no advantage to them, if planted in th(? 
manner recommended ; viz., "on upland," and " on loam." 
The policy of their assertions is evident ; small fruits, for 
one's own family, are generally grown in the garden, upon 
selected upland, and every one owning such a spot would 
naturally desire to have this valuable fruit among his 
collection. 

But comparatively few possess ground adapted to cran- 
berries, hence unprincipled dealers recommend a system 



18 



CRANBERRY CULTURE. 



of culture for the many, that they may sell the more 
vines. 

There is a plant called the High-bush, or High Cran- 
berry ( Viburnum Opulus), indigenous to North America, 
found on uplands in many localities in the Nortl ern 
States. C. L. Flint says : " It is a beautiful shrub, some- 
times ten or twelve feet high, having a white blossom, 
and a fruit somewhat smaller than the common cranberry, 
perfectly red, and of an acid taste, well adapted for pies, 
tarts, etc., for which it is often used. The fruit diffei s 
from the common cranberry in having a small, oblong 
stone, instead of seeds. It is easily propagated from the 
seeds, layers, or cuttings, and is often found as a garden 
shrub, flourishing in every variety of soil, sands and 
clays, wet and dry. Its berries grow in clusters, and are 
persistent through the winter." 

The plant called, in Maine, the Mountain Cfnnberry 
{Taecinmm Vitis-Idcea)^ has leaves shaped like those of 
our common Cranberry, and bears an acid, fruit, used for 
the same purposes as our cranberry. It is occasionally 
met with in Massachusetts, where it is called the ' Cow 
Berry.' " 

There is still another plant {Arctostaphylos Uva-ursi^ 
Spreng. Arbutus of Linn.) found in abundance on Ca])e 
Cod, and there called the Hog Cranberry. It also grows 
abundantly in the Pine region of New Jersey, where it 
is known as the Grouse Berry, Upland Cranberry, also 
Bearberry and Uva-ursi, and in some parts as " Universe," 
a corruption of Uva-ursi. 

It is not properly a variety of the cranberry, but be- 
longs to a different genus. Like that plant, however, it 
is trailing, and has leaves somewhat similar in shape. Its 
fruit is red, but smaller than the cranberry, and of a dry, 
mealy nature. Both fruit and leaves are used for me- 
dicinal purposes ; the latter are also in demand among the 
inhabitants as a substitute for tea. The plant may be ob- 



HISTORY OF CULTIVATIOX. 



19 



tained in large quantities from its native soil, the dry and 
barren sands of Cape Cod, and the Pines of South J ersey. 



CHAPTER n. 
HISTORY OF CULTIVATION. 

Fifty years ago, one embarking extensively in the culti- 
vation of the cranberry would have been comparable to a 
craft putting to sea without chart or compass. Doubts 
would have accompanied his progress, and the possibility 
of profit resulting from his labors have been exceedingly 
uncertain, for the reason that the wrong courses to be 
pursued were far more numerous than the right ones. 
Hence it was that the early cultivators ventured out 
very cautiously, risking but little of their labor or capital 
in the doubtful enterprise. 

Many failed, but failures, although unpleasant, are not 
entirely Tvithout good results, and should be carefully 
chronicled, to the end that others may learn wisdom, and 
not fall into the same errors. 

Some were partially successful, and their names have 
become connected with the business, although their 
achievements have been far surpassed by men of whom 
we have never heard ; yet they were comparatively suc- 
cessful in their day, and they deserve our notice now, for 
ha\T.ng laid the foundation of successful cultivation. 

These pioneers in the business were men of enterprise ; 
for they not only encountered many difficulties in growing 
the fruit, but were unable to sell it, when grown, for re- 
munerative prices. Strange as it may appear, when the 
supply of cranberries was very limited, and derived al- 
most entirely from natural bogs, the price per bushel was 



20 



CRANBERRY CULTURE. 



discouragingly low. For instance, about thirty years 
ago, two well-known merchants of Medford, N. J., in- 
vested in a lot of good, natural cranberries, with the view 
of speculation. The price paid was 62 cents per bushel, 
and yet they lost money by the operation. 

The success of a few cultivators becoming known, 
others were induced to attempt the business, and as the 
supply gradually increased, the berries were exposed for 
sale in new markets, and people who had before been un- 
acquainted with them were, perhaps, attracted by their 
fine appearance, and led to give tliem a trial in the famous 
tart or sauce, — a trial being sufficient to convince even the 
most skeptical of their excellence, and create a demand 
for them wherever they were introduced. 

This demand, steadily increasing, even faster than the 
supply, caused the prices to advance, and as the business 
became remunerative, growers were multiplied in num- 
bers, and stimulated to greater exertions. But, notwith- 
standhig the enormously increased production, the demand 
has increased still more rapidly, and consequently the 
price has kept pace with it. 

Boswell, writing for the ^'Public Ledger/' Philadelphia, 
about twenty years ago, on the cultivation, preservation, 
and transportation of the cranberry, said : " There is 
ten times the quantity raised now that there was forty 
years ago ; but instead of the price being lower than for- 
merly, it is one hundred per cent higher. Forty years 
ago, in Boston, which has always been the great depot 
for this fruit, the price was from 75 cents to $1.00 per 
bushel, but for a fe w years past the price has ranged from 
$1.50 to $2.50 per bushel." 

It may safely be said that, wathiu the last ten years, 
the production has increased at least tenfold, and the 
price is now one hundred per cent higher than that named 
by Boswell. In fact, a portion of the crop of 1866 was 
sold by the growers at $10 per bushel. 



HISTOPvY or CULTIVATION. 



21 



Tills price, however, is unusually high, cand was caused 
by a partial failure in the crop of that season ; it is only 
me:Uione<i to illustrate ho^' highly the fruit is appreciated 
where it is best known. 

Although the Cranberry is indigenous to many parts 
of Xorrh America, there are comparatively few localities 
where it has been cultivated. The most important of 
these are : Cape Cod, Mass., West Xew Jersey and AVis- 
consin. Other Xew England States, Xew York, Michigan, 
and Minnesota, have cultivated it more or less. 

The first attempts at the cultivation of the Cranberry 
in this country, were made on Cape Cod, about the year 
1820. The pioneer cultivators in that locality of course 
were enabled to gain considerable experience and profi- 
ciency in growing the crop long before any attention was 
given to this branch of fruit culture in either Xew Jer- 
sey or any of the Western States. 

S. B. Phinney says : Half a century has now elapsed 
since Captain Henry Hall, of Dennis, in the County of 
Barnstable, Mass., commenced the cultivation of the cran- 
berry. His bog, or 'cranberry yard,' as he called it, has 
no year since failed of producing a remunerative crop. 
For the next thirty years after Mr. Hall commenced, 
many experiments were made by others, and most of them 
proved to be failures. The general cultivation does not 
date back further than the year 1850, yet since that date 
there have been many faihires, and many bogs, recently 
set, will never yield remunerative crops. By this term, 
and by ' successful ctiltivation,' I mean that the crops, in- 
cluding the present value of the bogs, have more than 
repaid the original cost, interest, and incidental expenses 
of cultivating, picking, and sending to market.'' 

It was not until about the year 1845 that the first vines 
were planted in Xew Jersey ; and for several years the 
history of the Cape Cod pioneers was repeated in the 
numerous failures that followed. Although the Jersey- 



22 



CRAXBEEET CULTURE. 



men had heard something of the success of cranberry 
culture in Xe^ England, but they knew little or nothing 
of the methods of cukivation by which this success was 
achieved. Having nothing to guide them in their early 
attempts at cranberry culture, it is not surprising that 
the Xew Jersey growers found it unprofitable. Indeed, 
it is estimated that until towards the year 1S60. nine- 
tenths of tliose who undertook it failed. 

John Webb, of Ocean County, was perhaps one of the 
earliest successful experimenters in this State. He com- 
menced by removing some sods of vines from a neighbor- 
ing swamp, and placing tliem in a damp spot, that proved 
to be adapred to their growth : in this they flourished, 
and. in c^'urse of time, the ground was covered with 
vines yielding paying crops. 

Ba";cLiy Whi^e. one ot the first cultivators in Burling- 
ton County, writing, in 1S55, to the Secretarv of the Mas- 
s ic'iusrtt^ Board of Agrienlture. said : In the sprinof of 
1S5L I commenced operations by plowmg up (the turf 
was turned under), and planting about three-fourths of 
an acre on a ICack. peaty soil, ot twelve or fifteen inches 
in depth, with a white sand and gravel subsoih On either 
side, a few hundred yards distant, on ground in which a 
horse would mire, the wild vines were sfrowing luxuri- 
antly. I struck out the rows four feet apart each wa}', 
and planted a sod of vines, some four inches square, at 
each intersection. Tiiey were cultivated some that sea-on. 
That fail we picke i three pecks of fruit, large and fine ; 
about an equal quantity had been destroyed by a worm, 
simiLar in appearance to the apple-worm. In 1S5*2. I 
planted about one and a quarter acres in a similar manner, 
excepting that the hills were placed four feet by two feet 
apart. The product that fall was alx">ut six bushels of 
large fruit, picked about the la-t of Au:::ust, but they did 
not keep well The vines had become so matted as to ad- 



HISTORY OF CULTIVATIOX. 



23 



mit of no cultivation, except hand pulling the grass and 
huckleberry bushes ; (weeds there were none). 

"No more vines were planted. From the two acres, we 
picked (about Sept. 7th, 1853,) fourteen bushels of sound 
fruit; about seven bushels rotted on the vines within two 
weeks previous to picking. Those picked were spread 
out thinly upon floors, out of the reach of frost, and de- 
cayed rapidly. I think the loss from decay in five months 
from the time of picking, would amount to seventy-five 
per cent ; while of the wild berries, picked about the same 
time, and kept in the same manner, the loss from decay 
was not more than one or two per cent. 

''Upon viewing the plantation in the latter part of August, 
1854, 1 found the vines most luxuriant, matting completely 
over the surface of the ground. There appeared then to 
be about twenty-five or thiity bushels of sound fruit upon 
them, not quite ripe enough for picking. These soon 
commenced rotting, and when they were picked, about 
the middle of September, I secured only about ten bushels 
of sound fruit, which kept quite as badly as during the 
previous winter. 

Such has been my experience in the cultivation of the 
cranberry ; and unless I can find a remedy for this rotting 
of the berry, I must abandon the business as unprofitable. 

"If this can be avoided, there is an excellent opportu- 
nity here to cultivate them extensively and profitably. 
They begin to rot about the commencement of their 
ripening or coloring, on the side touching the ground, 
presenting the appearance of having been scalded. I 
have thought it might be owing to the hot sun shining on 
them after rain, scalding the part touching the earth. 
Possibly, when the vines become thicker, shading the 
ground more thoroughly, it may be corrected. If that is 
the case, I will try a new plantation, setting out the 
plants one foot apart each way." 

There was much truth in his supposed cause of the 



24 



CRAXBERRY CULTURE. 



decay, as well as in the remedy • such were the difficul- 
ties which continually harrassed the first cultivators. 
They had no experience to guide their steps ; no certain 
rules of procedure ; consequently the slow progress, and 
frequent faikires. 

It was not until near the year 1860 that the cranberry 
business was commenced in earnest in Xev/ Jersey. Since 
that time it has rapidly developed, until now the value 
of cultivated cranberry property in this State, alone, may 
be estimated at several millions of dollars. In fact. Pro- 
fessor Cook, State Geologist for Xew Jersey, alluding to 
this production in his report of 1869, said : ''Already 
our fields supply more than half of all raised in the 
United States." Our crop of that year being estimated 
at more than one hundred thousand bushels. 

And yet, with these enormous results, their cultivation 
is principally confined to three counties, viz.. Ocean, Bur- 
lington, and Atlantic, and perhaps not one two-hundredth 
part of the area of these is fitted for their culture. 

The three counties, before named, include most of what 
is known as '' The. Pines," — an uncultivated region, con- 
taining about twelve hundred thousand acres. 

From the position it occupies,b'jtween the two great cities 
of the nation, it may be a marvel to some that this region 
should have remained so long imcultivated ; but it is ex- 
plained in few words. The soil is light and sandy, not suit- 
ed to growing grass or the cereals, but yielding good crops 
when planted in small fruits. These, with the exception of 
cranberries, require easy and rapid facilities for marketing ; 
such as are only obtained in the interior by the use of rail- 
roads, and those, imtil lecently have been withheld. 
Hence, the swamps were left to make cedar, and the 
uplands to produce pine timber. But now, railroad 
facilities are being afforded, and large portions of " The 
Pines " are destined to become as a fruitful garden under 
the skillful management of the fruit grower. 



CHOICE OF LOCATIONS. 



25 



CHAPTER III. 

CHOICE OF LOCATIONS. 

Every possessor of waste swamp land is interested to 
know whether, by planting it in cranberries, he may not 

make it to blossom as the rose," and, at the same time, 
increase his revenue. 

To every one about to engage in the cranberry business, 
the proper location for a meadow, as regards its soil and 
surroundings, is a matter of the utmost importance ; for 
the reason, that, if a suitable soil is not selected at the 
start, the greatest care in preparing the ground, in setting 
out the vines, and in nursing them afterward, will fail to 
make the undertaking a success. Whereas, should a bog 
be chosen that is really adapted to their groicth^ some 
carelessness in regard to preparing and planting may fol- 
low without causing a failure. 

The Cranberry is peculiar in its taster and habits. On 
some soils it cannot be made to thrive, while upon others 
it is very hardy, and easily propagated. Indeed, we have 
known instances where vines, just dropped u|)on the sur^- 
face, have taken root and grown. But skill and care are 
always essential in the manasfcment of a cranberry mead- 
ow, in order to obtain the l-est results. 

TVe would recommend any one who contemplates in- 
vesting largely in this business to visit, if convenient, 
some locality where it has been successfully conducted, 
thnt he may form a more correct idea of what is required, 
than could possibly be imparted by a description. 

The alluvial f(jrraatlon \^ the only one in which the cran- 
berry can be successfully cultivated. Thouo^h this forma- 
tion includes the most barren and the most fertile soils, the 
dryest and the wettest yet its character is Avell marked, 
and it can be easily distinguished. Sand, or quartz rock, 
2 



26 



craxeerry culture. 



pulverized or granulated, is alluvium, separated from the 
drift by the waves and currents of the ocean, and eleva- 
ted by the action of the waters. The deltas, or rich in- 
terval lands near the outlets of rivers, are alhiviuin. and 
are formed by the subsiding of the "hner particles brouo;ht 
down by the streams. 

The mud found in the narrow bogs and creeks near the 
sea shore, and the muck, or j^eat. underlyin:^ swamps and 
fen-lnnds. are of the same character. 

Salt and fresh meadows, tormed partly by deposits of 
m.ud. and partly Ijy decayed vegetable and animal mat- 
ter, belong to the same cla-s. In fact, all alluvial forma- 
tions are caused by the action of water. 

There are several varieties of muck, or peat, all of 
which have a fertilizing effect upon the cra]iber!y vine. 
Muck is composed almost entirely of decayed vegetable 
matter, but deposits are fo imd in different stages of de- 
composition : those most thoroughly decompC'Sed being 
best adapted to our purp-se. Professor Sidney K. Smith, 
of X. J., has analyzed a sample of muck, with the follow- 
ing results : 

*• The muck is spread on a plate, and placed over a ves- 
sel of boiling water — tr;is affords a means of maintaining 
an equal temperature at '21*2' F. In this position it will 
lose 50 per cent j.^) its weio:ht of water. If you will weigh 
100 parts of the sample thus dried, and burn it. and then 
weigh, yoti will have from 6 to 30 par:s of ashes : so that 
from 70 to 94 per cent is -'irganic matter, which took the 
gaseous or aeriform s:a:e as soon as hi eat enough was ap- 
plied. 

'* Btit this difference in weight of ash comes chiefly 
from the larger per cent of sand, or silicates, in some varie- 
ties than in others : asihie from this, since the aniount of 
the salts of potash, soda. lime. etc.. is small, compared with 
the whole weight of the muck, it need not be reckoned. 
It is, theD^ the volatile or organic part that contains 



CHOICE OF LOCATIONS. 



the elements of fertility which we want to render availa- 
ble for plant-food. This part has been found, by careful 
analysis, to consist of several substances, to which has 
been g:iven the oeneral name of Geine, Some kinds of 
muck contain as high as 95 per cent of geine ; and in 
this are locked up nearly all the fertilizing substances 
(ammonia excepted) to be found in cow-dung. The 
average amount of soluble geine found in peat is estima- 
ted at 25 per cent ; the more soluble it is, the greater 
will be its value." 

The cranberry cannot .be successfully cultivated in the 
''^ Drift f^rmationP Hundreds of experiments have been 
tried, and nearly all have proved to be failures. Pro- 
fessor Agassiz describes the drift formation as being that 
portion or* the earth's surface which Avas formed by glacial 
action, and consisting of rocks not in place — that is, 
loose, and not in solid It^dges — gravel, clay, and loam. 
This definition is plain, and to the point, and will enable 
any one locating a cranberry meadow to distinguish the 
drift, and reject it. Bogs, naturally well adapted to the 
growth of this fruit, have been ruined by using drift ma- 
terial in preparing them. 

In some bogs where partly drift and partly alluvium 
were used, the exact line between the two could be traced 
by the difference in the growth and appearance of the 
vines. 

Such is the testimony of S. B. Phinney, of Barnstable, 
Mass., and its truth is corroborated by our experience in 
Xew Jersey. It is said " there are exceptions to all 
general rules but we never knew of but one exception 
to the rule previously stated, that cranberries cannot be 
successfully cultivated on the drift formation," and that 
was a small portion of a twelve-acre meadow near Med- 
ford, X. J., where the vines were flourishing upon a soil 
containing sufficient clay to make good moulding sand. 
But success in this instance was owing to the peculiar lo- 



28 



CRAXBERPvY CULXrRE. 



cation of the soil, it being situated on a slope which 
received sutiicient spring-water to keep the ground alwavs 
loose, or unpacked, and somewhat of the nature of quick- 
sand. If this [-atch had been drained sufficiently to make 
the surface dry, and allow it to become packed, no doubt 
the vines would have failed, and perliav^s perished. 

Clay and loam are to be avoided, unless occurring in 
small quantities mixed with sand or muck : thev then 
tend to decrease the yield and improve the qualitv of the 
fruit. Grravel is spoken of as belonging to the drift for- 
mation — this means gravel composed in part of clay, 
such as is used for road-making. 

There is a kind of gravel, however, composed of pebbles 
and beach sanl, belonging to the alluvial formation, 
whit'ii is well ada'«ted to the growth of the vine. 

There exists also a variety of yellow sand, which, at 
first sight, appears to contain a portion of clay ; but if, 
upon being submitted to the test, it proves to be colored 
sand only, it may be used to good advantage in preparing 
the meadow. 

The test for sand or gravel to be used in cranberry 
culture is this : Take a portion of the soil and compress 
it tightly in the hand; if it is suitable, it \\ill fall 
apart upon being released : but if composed in part of 
loam, it will adhere together after the pressure is removed. 

This is a simple but reliable test, and one much used by 
practical grower>. TTe knew one instance of failure, 
where the grower had planted his vines upon a soil that 
strongly resembled clear, white sand, but upon examination 
it was found to contain a lara*e percentage of white clay, 
which readily a:'counte 1 for the failure. 

The C!-anberry flonri-he^ in pure muck, but in it the 
growth is frequently so vigorous as to ]-ender the vines un- 
productive, as well as soft and pliable, indicating a defi- 
ciency of earthy matter in the soil. As stated in a previ- 
ous chapter, vines growing naturally in a swamp, are not 



CHOICE OF LOCATIONS. 



23 



rooted directly in the muck bottom, but rest among the 
mosses above it — a twofold advantage being thus gained — 
for the plants are not only lir'ted above the water during 
the growling season, but they are thereby prevented from 
making an over abundant growth. 

The soil best adapted to the production of cranberries 
is an equal mixture of coarse sand and muck^ which is most 
certain to be obtained by covering well-decomposed muck 
with beach sand, tlie latter leaving a clean surface for the 
young plants; while in a few years the two become thor- 
oughly incorporated, making, as it were, a soil of black 
sand. Could a ^oil of this composition be found in a state 
of nature, rightly situated as legards moisture, much ex- 
pense of sanding might be saved. 

Heath Poxds. 

Muck is frequently found to the depth of five or six 
inches in heath ponds^ or low basins, — places naturally 
flooded with water during winter. When the muck in 
these ponds is underlaid with coarse, white sand, a 
cheap and valuable plantation may bo made by plowing 
to the surface two inches of the silicious subsoil, and, at 
the same time, turning the muck under. 

Heath ponds are frequently underlaid with a very hard 
substratum, known as the hard pan," which is almost 
impervious to water. It having acted an important part 
in the formation of the pond, care should be taken not to 
break through it while preparing for the vines, lest by so 
doing the surface of the ground be rendered too dry. 
One f iilure from this cause has come under our immediate 
observation. Figure 4 gives a section of a heath pond, 
showing the position of the different strata. 

In selecting a location, it is very important to observe 
the varieties of plants or trees existing upon the ground. 
Although no cranberry vines may be growing there, yet 



30 



CPvAXBEKRY CULTURE. 



the presence of other jDlants, requiruig similar conditions 
of soil and moisture, indicate a soil congenial to the 
growth of tiie cranberry. For instance, the Feather- 
leaf, also called Gander-bush, and Leather-leaf {Casscm- 
dra calyculata) (fig. 5), so abundant in heath ponds, is 
considered a sure indication of a proper locality. 

Tlie Ground Laurel {Kalmm cm f/f^st [folia] thrives 
upon land that will produce cranberries — sometimes 
profitably — but such should not be chosen for a perma- 
nent meadow, it being generally too dry. Vines, 2:)lanted 
upon these lands, become matted in a few years, produce 
one or two crops, and then assume a woody, or dead ap- 




111:-. 4. — SECTION OF HEATH POND. 

pearance, — and this is especially the case if they are not 
submerged during winter. 

A soil producing the Upland Huckleberry must always 
be avoided, as it becomes pnrched or dried up in summer. 

Swamp laxds, upon which the TThite Cedar, or Juniper, 
the Maple, Swamp Huckleberry and Magnolia thrive, are 
frequently selected. It is in these that the deep deposits 
of muck are found, and, when properly prepared, they 
make lasting and valuable meadows. 

N. H. Bishop says : Gum-swamp bottoms are to be 
avoided, as the presence of the gum-tree (Xyssa multi' 
flora) denotes a cold, springy soil, which would require an 



CHOICE OF LOCATIONS. 



31 




Fig. 5 — FEATHER-LEAF — CASSANDRA CALYCULATA. 



32 



CRANBEREY CULTURE. 



expensive amount of drainage. The soil of gum-swamps 
seems to favor the production of more grass than any 
other swamp lands that we have prepared for the vines. 

"It is, however, a good sign to find gum-trees in abund- 
ance, growing at the heads of streams, and all their small 
tributaries, as it promises an abundance of spring water 
that may be needed further down the valley." 

For the purposes of cranberry culture, it is always es- 
sential that swamps be surrounded by sand — coarse sand, 




Fig. 6. — SECTION OF SWAMP. 

if possible, it being less liable to pack than that which is 
finer. The section, fig. 6, shows a swamp favorably situ- 
ated. 

Savaxnas, or ground l}'iiTg between swamps and 
upland, are ofttimes turned to good account, but tliey 
contain a diversity of soils, which renders their selection 
a matter of care. 

For instance, we not unfrequently find in them heath 
ponds containing muck, ridges of black sand, and knolls 
of white sand. A Savannj. is represented in section in 
figure 7. 



CHOICE OF LOCATIONS. 



33 



The best savannas are those which contain the most 
heath ponds, or have a uniform surface of deep, black 
sand. Of the methods of preparing the various kinds of 
soil, we will treat in the next chapter. 

MiLL-PoxDs have been made available by simply draw- 
ing off the water, and planting vines in their beds. 
Some, thus treated, have succeeded admirably, while 
others have failed. Joseph C. Hinchman, of Milford, 
]Sr. J., owns a meadow of this character, the bottom of 
which consists of a mixture of sand and muck, the latter 
predominatiug. It was planted in cranberry vines in 




Fig. 7.— SECTION OF SAVANNA. 

1865, and we are assured by the owner that its produc- 
tion of fruit increased every year for ten years. A portion 
of the surface was covered with sand, but that which was 
not has succeeded quite as well. In most cases, however, 
it will be found necessary to sand mill-pond bottoms, in 
order to obtain the proper conditions of soil. Hence, in 
selecting such locations, it is important to consider well 
the surroundings. Sand should be abundant, and deep ; 
and when this is the case, the surface will look barren, and 
the growth upon it will be somewhat scanty ; frequently 
consisting of pine, ground oaks, upland huckleberry 
bushes, etc. High banks and bold shores are desirable, 
on account of the spring water they afford, which, when 
properly controlled, becomes exceedingly valuable espe- 
cially in times of drouth. (See fig. 8.) 

The cranberry requires moisture always near the surface 
2^' 



34 



CRANBERRY CULTURE. 



of the soil, but it is necessary that it circulate freely 
through the ground ; as stagnant water is fatal to the 
growth of the plant. Therefore, in choosing a location, 
though everything else may be favorable, if you cannot 
drain the ground at least one foot below the surface, re- 
ject it at once. This drainage is required to enable the 
water to pass readily through the soil, and avoid anything 
like stagnation. 

On true " Cranberry ground," although the ditches may 
be cut one or two feet deep, the soil rarely becomes dry 




5v 



Fig. 8. — SECTION OF MILL-POND. 

more than half an inch below the surface, and this is as it 
should be. Water is essential, but it must he under con- 
trol. 

Small living streams are quite valuable for the purposes 
of winter flooding and summer irrigation; hence, they 
should be duly considered in selecting the location. 

Uplands are always to be avoided, whether of alluvial 
or drift formation, the objections to them being numerous; 
for instance, the vines upon dry lands are short lived, 
blossoms are blasted, and the fruit is dwarfed or badly 
worm eaten, the ravages of fruit worm being greatest 
upon dry soils ; of the fruit worm we will speak more 
fully in the chapter devoted to " Enemies and Difficulties." 



PREPA.RIXG THE GROUND 



35 



Portions of some cranberry meadows are impregnated 
with oxide of iron, and where this occurs, the soil has a 
tendency to form long, perpendicular crystals of ice in 
winter, which lift the roots of the vines entirely out of 
the ground. 

These places are objectionable ; for, although the heav- 
ing may be ])revented by continued flooding in cold 
weatlier, it is quite common to have the water accidentally 
drained off, thus requiring young vines to be replanted, 
and seriously injuring those more matured. 

Pure muck, also, has the same objection ; it will heave 
the young vines out during the process of freezing and 
thawing, unless covered with water or sand. Hence an- 
other advantage of sanding such bottoms; even one or 
two inches being sufficient to keep the plants rooted. 

Coarse or flakey mucks are not good to retain moisture, 
neither do they absorb it from below in dry times; conse- 
quently, without irrigation, soils of this character suffer 
more from drouth than sand itself. They also have a ten- 
dency to crack open in summer (unless covered with sand), 
much to the injury of plants growing upon them. 



CHAPTER 
PREPARING THE GROUXD. 

Having selected a location, combining water, sand, and 
muck, in proper proportions, the next step is to prepare 
the ground for planting vines. And as the modus cpe- 
randi is varied for the several locations, swamps, savan- 
nas, and mill-ponds, we will describe the manner of pre- 
paring each separately. 



36 



CKANBEERY CULTURE. 



Swamps. 

Should a swamp be the chosen spot, the first step will 
be to cut a main ditch, to the depth of two feet below the 
surface of the muck underlying the turf and roots, and 
of sufficient width to prevent the surface becoming flood- 
ed after heavy rains. This drainage will enable the re- 
mainder of the work to be done more expeditiously, and, 
consequently, more cheaply. Next, remove the bushes or 
brush from the ground, to make room for the turfing-hoe. 
This may be done to best advantage in summer, while 
they are in full leaf, at which time the bushes should be 
cut down with a brier-scythe, axe, or bill-hook, and left 




Fig. 9. — BILL-HOOK. 



until the leaves are entirely dry. Figure 9 shows a bill- 
hook designed by James A. Fenwick, and is superior to 
the one in general use, the thick, heavy end rendering 
the cutting edge more elFective. 

While the leaves are thus drying, the edges of the 
swamp should be turfed one or two rods in width to pre- 
vent the escape of fire, after which, with sufficient force 
for any emergency, the torch may be applied to the lee- 
ward, and the devouring element will not only consume 
the brush, but also a large portion of the dry turf in the 
bottom, thus causing the remainder to be more easily 
1 handled, and making the swamp present a much less for- 
midable appearance than before. 

After disposing of the bushes, the ground is to De 
"turfed," or scalped," as it is sometimes called, that is, 
the turf and surface roots must be separated from the soil 
beneath, and turned over in pieces twelve or fourteen 
inches square, or of convenient size for taking off. A 



PREPARING THE GROUND. 



37 



turfing-hoe is used for this purpose, made of plate-steel, 
about six inches wide, and ten inches long. Before using 
the hoe, however, the dexterous workman cuts his turf in 
strips, twelve inches wide, with a cleav^er or ax. (See 
fig. 10.) The average cost of turfing is now tw^enty-five 
cents per square rod, or $40 per acre. The next step, 
after loosening the turf, is to remove it ; and to accomplish 
this, the floats " may be conveyed to the shore, either 
on barrows or railroad cars, and used in constructing the 




Fig. 10.— CUTTING AND PARING TURF. 



surrounding fence. Twenty-five cents per square rod is 
the price usually paid for "hauling off*" the turf and 
building the fence, or wall. 

After freeing the ground from turf, the stumps should 
be cut off* even with the surface, upon those portions of 
the meadow which are to be sanded, and removed en- 
tirely from those parts where the sand may be plowed up 
from beneath. 

Some of our successful growers consider it a waste of 
time and money to take up stumps, saying the vines 



58 



CEA^'BEERY CULTURE. 



will run over them in course of time." which is very true, 
but the vines will not root in them unless their tops are 
very much decayed; and whatever prevents the runners 
from rooting, is an injury to the meadow, Avhether it 
be moss, surface roots, or stumps. But were there no 
other advantage to be gained, the satisfaction of having 
one's ground free from such eye-sores is worth the price 
of remo^•ing them, especially after the meadow becomes 
worth 81,000 per acre, as many in this State now are. 
Should there be any live roots remaining near the surface 
— for instance, huckleberry or brier roots — they may be 
loosened with a grubbing-hoe, or large iron-toothed rake, 
and removed on wheel-barrows. 

Having disposed of the stimips and roots, we have now 
a clear surface of muck, with perhaps only one or tNvo main 




FiiT. 11.— MAIN AND SIDE DRAINS. 



ditches cut through it; but these vrould be very insuf- 
ficient for thoroughly di aining a large or wet swamp ; and 
in consideration of which side drains (tig. 11) must be dug 
of sufficient nmnber and capacity to drain ail parts of 
the meadow at least one foot, or, better, eighteen inches 
below the surface. 

In manv swamp bottoms it will be found necessary to 
cut these^ branch drains two rods apart throughout the 
entii-e len^rth of the meadow: their number, however, 
must depend upon the dampness of the ground, quantity 
of water to be carried off, etc. It will also be found neces- 
sary, at times, to dig good deep ditches along the edges, to 
regulate the spring water. The earth removed from the 
ditches, which will of course, be composed of muck, must 



PREPARIXG THE GROUND. 



39 



be spread over the surface of the meadow, or removed to 
the upland, and then Tve are ready for the sand. This is 
generally taken from the edges of the swamp upon barrows 
and plank walks, where the swamp is narrow, and upon 
cars where the surface to be covered is extensive. The car 
track (fig. 12) is movable, and is made in sections, each of 
which consists of two 4 x 4-inch pieces, fourteen feet long, 
securely fastened together, and bound with strips of iron 
one-fourth of an inch in thickness, to serve as " rails." In 




Fig. 13.— SA>'UING A MEADOW. 

most cases, it will be found advantageous to place wide 
boards under the ends of the sections where they come in 
contact, to prevent them from settling in the muck. The 
track is laid from the shore to any given point in the mead- 
ow, and one, or perhaps two, light dump cars placed 
thereon. If two, they are loaded simultaneously at the 
shore with clean sand, free from all roots or loam, and 
pushed out by the men to the required spot, where the 
sand is dumped on either side of the track, and spread 
evenly over the muck. This operation is repeated until 



40 



CRANBERRY CULTURE. 



the surface is covered on both sides of the track, when 
the railroad is moved to another place, and sand leveled 
over the place where it rested. 

It requires some judgment to determine the proper 
depth for the sand, which will vary according to the 
quantity of muck, and character of the bottom — most 
sand being required on those meadows containing the 
deepest muck, for the reason that an inch or two only, 
upon a deep, soft bed of muck, would settle down, and 
be lost in the black mass beneath. Therefore, where the 
muck is six or eight feet deep, let sand be put on to the 
depth of five or six inches ; but where it is only a foot 
or two thick, two or three inches of sand will be sufficient. 
The price for sanding will vaiy with the width of the 
meadow and the quantity put on — ranging from $50 to 
$150 per acre, for putting it on from one to four inches in 
depth. 

Another method of disposing of the turf and sanding 
jneadows was adopted, a year or two since, by John 
Pointsett, the energetic manager of affairs at " Cranberiy 
Park." His method is, in some respects, superior to that 
just described. 

After turfing the ground, he had the floats thrown up 
in windrows, leaving a cleared space of about two rods 
in width between them. He then dug pits, where the 
muck was not more thnn two feet thick, and threw out 
the clean, white sand from beneath, after which the track 
was laid, and the sand carried out and spread over the 
surface, while the turf was brought back, on the return 
trips, and packed in the pits. 

When the excavations were nearly filled up with debris, 
the muck which had previously been removed to uncover 
the sand was thrown back, leveled, and covered like the 
remainder, so that one could not tell where the holes had 
been by any unevenness in the surface. It is essential, in 



PREPARIXG THE GROUXU. 



41 



this method, that the tiirf \)Q padced in the pits as tighily 
as possible, to gtiard against settling. 

Sand from beneath muck is free from seeds of weeds, 
etc. The line conld be traced between the sand from be- 
low, and that from along the shore by the growth of 
weeds upon the latter. 

Mr. Poinsetts* plan is less expensive, since neither 
sand nor turf is to be carried so far. One htmdred dol- 
lars per acre were paid for removing the ttirf and spreading 
oil sand two inches in thickness. AVhen the turf is thus 
disposed of, a surrounding wooden fence must be built. 

The summer months are most favorable for ]^reparing 
cranberry ground : since as there is but little water to in- 
terfere at that time, the work may be pushed fo/ward 
rapidly. From the 1st of December to the 25th of jiarch 
bog work cannot usually be performed economically, on 
account of the frost and water which prevail at that sea- 
son, impeding the progress of the workmen. 

The present plan of clearing swamps is, to cut down 
the trees and bushes, build a dam, and flood for two 
years. This so destroys the vegetation that the vines 
may frequently be planted at once. 

Heath Poxds. 

Heatli ponds are prepared in much the same manner as 
swamps. The necessary ditches are first cut, the ground 
is then turfed, and the turf removed. If the sand imder- 
lying the muck is within reach of the plow, the bottom 
will be comparatively firm, and the ttirf may be hauled 
off" to good advantage with a pair of horses, attached 
to an ordinary farm wagon ; and the proper soil for the 
berries may be obtained by bringing to the surface, with 
a plow, an inch or two of the white subsoil. 

When tlie mttck is a little too deep to enable the plow 
to work the sand np, a system of trenching may be re- 
sorted to, as shown in fig. 13. Let the turf be thrown up 



42 



CRAXBERRY CULTURE. 



ill the form of windroT\'s by pitching it one rod each T\'aT. 
thus clearing a space two rods in width ; then cut a ditch 
near the row of turf, and throw tlie muck on the side 
next the turf, and the sand on the cleared surface, where 
it is to be spread about, as at A, fig. 13. 

After the sand is thrown out. the ditch should be pack- 
ed nearly full of turf, the muck leveled over it. and tiie 
whole carefully covered with sand, as at B. ficr. 13. 
Enough ditches must be left open to thoroughly drain the 
meadow. 

Perhaps there will be a surplus of turf after fiUincr the 
ditches, if so, remove it vv ith the car and track, or wheel- 




Fig. 13.— TRENCHT>-Cx FOR SAXD. 

barrow and j^lanks. TVIieels should never come in c<:^ntact 
with the surface after sanding, for the obvious reason that 
they would press the sand out of sight. 

When the muck in the heath pond is very deep, the sand 
must be brought from the edges, as described for swamps. 

In clearing cranberry ground, the turf is always to be 
removed, excepting where it consists of grass only, grow- 
ing as it frequently does, upon some <leep muck bed, or old 
swamp bottom whose sturdier growth has been consumed 
by fire in past ages, only leaving the imbedded logs and 
stumps to remind us of its former existence. These 
locations may be cheaply prepared by bending the grass 
down, and covering it with six inches of sand. If this is 
done in midsummer, while it is growiuGf freelv, tiie g^rass 
will be totally destroyed, and the expense of ''turfing" 
and "hauling ofi*" be saved. Care should be taken, how- 
ever, before sanding, to remove all fern roots and bushes, 



PREPAEIXG THE GROUXD. 43 

Otherwise they mil grow up, and be a continual source 
of annoyance. 

The cost of clearing and sanding swamps and lieath 
ponds for cranberries varies from $175 to §600 per acre, 
depending upon the size and roughness of the bog, depth 
of sand, etc. 

Savannas. 

• 

This term is given to the medium lands, so to speak, be- 
ing midway between swamps and uplands. Their surfaces 
are more or less undulating, and the character of their soil 
quite varied. The knolls . or higher porti(ms, having been 




Fig. 14. — SPHAGNUM MOSS AND CRANBERRIES. 



leached by the rains, are deficient in vegetable matter, 
while in the basins or lower parts, the accumulation of 
water and wash from the knolls has gradually assisted in 
the formation of a muck deposit, supporting a rank growth 
of Sphagnum and Feather-leaf. 

The plant producing muck most rapidly is the sphag- 
num moss y growing luxuriantly in boggy or wet places, 
it possesses the property of increasing at the top, while at 
the same time its lower extremities are decaying and 
blending with the dark soil below. The nourishment for 
the plant is derived principally from the air and water. 

As in clearing swamps, savannas must first be ditched 



CRAXBEPvKY CULTURE. 



and then turfed. For cutting the turf in strips to prepare 
it for the hoe, an ordinary cleaver may be used ; or, to ac- 
complish the work more expeditiously, use a tool (fig. 15) 
made in the following manner ; viz : fix a stout, sharp 
coulter m a benm, with handles and clevis attached: and 
let it be drawn through the turf by a horse, the length of 
the blade being properly adjusted to cut to the required 
depth. 

Some prefer the coulter to mcline backward, that it may 
slide over large roots, but when in that position, the ten- 
dency is to raise out, and it requires considerable pi'essure 
to keep it to its work. 

In order to dispose of the turf after being separated 
from the soil, we have sometimes heaped up and burned 




Fig. 15. — TUKF CUTTER. 



that grown on the lower portions of the meadow; on the 
higher parts, the turf generally contains too much sruid 
to burn freely. The ground may be cleared n:iore cheaply 
iu^this way, but the effect of ashes upon the soil is to pro- 
duce a growth of Tree-moss (Polytrlrhum commune)^ 
which, wdien abundant, is a serious injury to the vines, in 
that it keeps the runners lifted above the ground, and 
prevents them from rooting. Upon spots where heaps of 
turf have been burned, moss frequently comes in, even 
after plowing ; but if the ashes are snread on the surface, 
and plowed under, no injury wdll result from them. 

Ashes have also a fertilizing effect upon the cranberry 
vines ; this fact induced us to spread them, several years 
ago, upon the surface of a sandy knoll, where the vines 



PREPARING THE GROUND. 



45 



were not thriving, but the damage resulting from the 
growth of moss overbalanced any benefit derived from 
the ashes. 

The "Pines" of Xew Jersey are subject to devastating 
fires, which sweep through them during the drouths of 
summer, doing an immense amount of injury to growing- 
timber, and frequently jeopardizing the tu]"f fences which 
surround the numerous cranberry meadows in that region. 

When the fire is once in a turf fence, it is almost im- 
possible to extinguish it, the only remedy being to cut a 
wide gap in the fence, to save that which is not on fire, 
and let the burning portion gradually smoulder away. 

A portion of the fence surrounding Howard White's 
fifteen-acre meadow, near Xew Lisbon, took fire in August, 
1869, and continued burning for two months, although a 
number of heavy storms occurred during that time. 

Fii*es in the " Pines " often originate from "coalings," or 
are started by men desiring a winter's job at chopping the 
dead timber. As the smoke looms up, it is seen by some 
one in the country who recognizes it as being in the di- 
rection of his " tract," and hastens to the spot, where, 
with the assistance of the inhabitants, he endeavors to im- 
pede its progress by firing against it, or by throwing sand. 
When a native of the pine region starts out to " fight 
fire," he as naturally takes with him his shovel and 
matches as the city fireman does his liose-carriage or 
engine. The extinguishing effect of sand, when throvrn 
upon the flames, is quite equal to that of water. 

These fires sometimes burn with sufficient fury to con- 
sume all the turf on portions of savannas over which 
they pass ; and where this is the case, the moss starts up 
very luxuriantly. As a general rule, in clearing savan- 
nas, it is best not to burn the turf upon the ground, but 
to cart it off*, and build with it a fence around the meadow^. 

A turf fence, when properly constructed, bears some 
resemblance to a " dry wall " of stone. In order to build 



40 



CRANBERRY CULTURE. 



one, first ascertain where it is to be put, then mark the 
inner line of the fence with numerous stakes, after which 
decide upon its width, or thickness, which will vary ac- 
cording to the quantity of turf to be used up — from four 
to six feet— the average height being from five to eight 
feet. Having determined the width, set up another row 
of stakes parallel with the first, to indicate the outer line, 
and then build the wall up perpendicularly between the 
two. Care should be taken to keep the top of the fence 




Fi^. 16.— SECTION OF A TURF FENCE. 



level, and to bind on the outer tier of floats by lapping 
the second row a little over them ; this will make the 
structure firm and durable. (See fig. 16.) 

The fork that we have found most convenient for 
handling turf is one made from an ordinary two-tined 
hay-fork, by simply cutting ofi* the tines to about eight 
inches in length, bending them to the proper shape, and 
securing them in a manure-fork handle. (See fig. 16.) 
This handle is very efiicient in placing the turf on the 
wall, it being quite an improvement upon the straight one 
80 frequently used. 

While the fences are being built, it is best to make ar- 
rangements for flooding the meadow, as it may require a 
different arrangement of walls to protect the dam. (See 



PREPARING THE GROUND. 



47 



chapter on Flooding.) Having disposed of the turf, the 
next step is to take out all sound stumps and live roots, 
as described for clearing swamps, after which the surface 
may need some leveling ; for instance, a pond, A, fig. T, 
containing muck may be in proximity to a ridge, B, of 
sterile sand ; if so, the knoll must be cut down, and the 
sand used for covering the muck ; this will make the gen- 
ral surface more level, and require less water to flood it. 
It will be quite important, however, to return some of the 
muck to the poor soil on the ridge, where it should be 
thickly spread about, and plowed under. 

But if the deposit of nmck in the pond is not deep 
enough to require sanding, in most cases it will not pay 
to level the ground, for the reason that the sand, if spread 
too thickly in the pond, would injure it, and the knoll 
from whence the sand was taken be left too poor to pro- 
duce fruit. 

In all these operations good judgment and skill are re- 
quii-ed to bring the meadow into the best possible condi- 
tion for the vines. 

In some instances, clay or loam is found underlying a 
thin stratum of muck. Where this occurs, the subsoil 
shouLl not be brought to the surface; but if sand is not 
convenient for covering it, plant the vines upon the 
cleanly raked surface of the muck without plowing. 
When this is done, the meadow must be flooded in winter 
to prevent heaving. 

We recently visited a savanna where the vines had 
been planted upon an inch or two of muck; they were 
exposed to the weather, and were badly thrown out by 
the action of frost. When only a thin covering of muck 
rests upon a bed of sand, it is best either not to plow at 
all, or very slightly, turning up only an inch of the sand. 

After plowing savannas, it is necessary to give the 
ground a thorough harrowing, to level any irregularities 



48 



CRANBERRY CULTURE. 



that may exist, and also to loosen the roots and bring 
them to the surface. 

Some growers think it best to leave the roots upon the 
surface, saying, " when they decay, the soil will be in- 
creased in fertility." But we cannot afford to use such 
expensive fertilizers as roots and sticks, for the reason 
th.at, if they are left in the soil, some of them will grow: 




¥ig^ 17.— PLANTS ON CLEAN AND ROOTY SURFACES. 

and if upon the top, they will seriously interfere with the 
matting vines by keeping tlie runners from rooting. Fig- 
ure 17 illustrates the difference between a rooty surface 
and one made perfectly clean. 

Savannas, with sand within reach of the plow, may 
be very cheaply prepared by throwing the turf, one rod 
each way, into windrows, and planting vines upon the 
cleared ground between them. (See fig. 18.) 

The wash from the decaying turf is found to act as a 
good fertilizer, and the embankments serve as a protec- 




Fig. 18.— PLANTING IN STRIPS. 

tion against the blasts of winter, in situations not suscep- 
tible of being flooded. 



MiLL-PoNDS. 



Success in cultivating the cranberry on mill-pond bot- 
toms depends, perhaps, more upon the location than upon 



PREPARIXG THE GROUXD. 4f> 

the manner of preparing the ground. But, however favor- 
able the location, if the bottom is not completely drained 
and well managed, it will fail to produce good results. 
One great source of failure is imperfect drainage. 

Mill-pond bottoms require no turfing; the standing water 
having destroyed the growth of bushes, etc., since none 
but aquatic plants can exist when entirely submerged. 

If the soil is about an equal mixture of sand and muck, 
no extra sand will be required ; but should the bottom 
consist of muck alone, it must be covered, and to accom- 
plish this, several methods have ])een adopted ; for instance, 
the swamp may be flooded, and the sand taken out upon 
rafts and thrown into the water, stakes being used to 
mark where it is deposited. Or, it may be spread evenly 
over the surface of the ice in winter, and, when the ice 
thaw^s the bottom will be well sanded. 

Railroad cars and tracks are used to a Ivantage in cov- 
ering extensive tracts; but the cheapest and most expedi- 
tious method that has come to our notice was one adopted 
by Jos. C.Hinchman, the practicability of which he proved 
by thoroughly covering with sand a mill-pond, containing. 
eighty acres, in a few w^eeks, with the assistance of two 
or three men. 

Water was the vehicle used to carry tiie sand, and to 
utilize it the stream was dammed near the head of the 
swamp, w^hich caused the water to flow in raceways con- 
structed upon each side of the meadow. He then com- 
menced at the loAver end, and, bv turning^ all the w^ater 
into one channel, succeeded in washing away high knolls, 
or banks, and depositing the sand evenly over the surface 
of the meadow. The secret of success seemed to lie in 
keeping the channel in form — like the arc of a circle — at 
the place where the washing was going on, and to do this 
was the principal work of his assistants. 

The banks of this mill-pond contained more or less 
clay in combination with the sand, and, had they been 



50 



CRANBERRY CULTURE. 



spread over the surface in the usual way, the probabilities 
are that the undertaking would have resulted in failure. 
But during the process of sanding with the aid of water, 
the clay was washed out and carried down stream, giving 
the water an ochreous hue for several miles below, thus 
leaving the sand in good condition for the vines. 



CHAPTER V. 
PLANTING THE VINES. 

The surface of the meadow being thoroughly pre- 
pared, the question arises, When, and how, shall I set 
out tiie vines ? 

We know of no particular time, better than all others, 
for planting the vines ; but in spi'ing, from the first of 
April to the first of June, is the proper season in 'New 
Jersey. They may be put out even later than this in the 
New England States. It is considered here that vines, 
set out aft'2r the fii st of June, are but little better than 
those planted the following spring. The cranberry vine 
is exceedingly hardy, and will live, in its proper soil, 
under treatment that would be fatal to almost any other 
plant. We have seen vines live, transplanted even in June 
while in blossom, and in July with berries on them. 

Indeed, some growers being late in making their 
ground ready, have put out many acres of vines during 
these months ; but, in most cases, it is very unwise to do 
so, since more or less of the plants will perish from ex- 
posure to the scorching suns of midsummer, or from 
being put on ground deficient in moisture, while those 
surviving make little or no growth until the next year. 



PLANTING THE VINES. 



51 



Fall planting is recommended by some, but this season 
of the year is no better than early spring. Those, how- 
ever, having more ground prepared than they can put out 
properly in the spring, will do well to plant the higlier 
portions of the meadow in autumn, being careful to avoid 
any low places containing clear muck, the freezing and 
thawing of which would heave out the young vines. 

Tlie best mode of planting cranberry vines is a point 
upon which "doctors disagree;" therefore, to enable each 
one to select for himself, we will describe the various 
methods in use, and call attention to those which have 
answered us best. 

1st. Sod Planting consisted in taking, from their na- 
tive marshes, sods containing cranberry vines, moss, turf, 
etc., and depositing them at regular or irregular distances 
upon the prepai ed or unprepared meadow, as the case 
might be. If the meadow was prepared, holes were made 
to receive the sods ; if not, they were simply thrown upon 
the surface, among the grass, etc., and left to t:ike their 
chances. This was one of the earliest plans, originating, 
perhaps, from a desire not to disturb the roots of the 
plant ; but there being many and serious objections to 
this method, it has long since been discarded. 

2d. Hill Planting was an improvement upon the sod 
system in one respect; viz., bunclies of clean vines were 
used, free from the roots of other plants. The ground 
was marked out in drills about two feet apart each way, 
and a handful of vines planted at each intersection; but 
large bunches of vines have a tendency to dry up and 
become woody, thus seriously injuring the plantation. 
This difficulty induced some cultivators to adopt the ex- 
pedient of planting in funnel-shaped holes, made by rota- 
ting a sharp stick or dibble ; the vines are placed in these 
holes, and scattered around so that, when the center is 
filled with sand, they will be spread out, pointing in all 



52 



CRANBERRY CULTURE. 



directions (see fig. 19); dead bunches are thus avoided; 
but this plan is not generally adopted, it being more ex- 
pensive and less satisfactory than some others. 

3d. Planting in Drills. — Upon all soils which require 
no sanding, but are susceptible of being prepared with 




Fig. 19.- PLANTING IN HILLS. 

the plow, the best method is to " strike out " the ground 
with a plow in rows, three feet apart, and scatter the 
vines thinly, but evenly, along the furrow, putting only 
one or two in a place. They should be leaned up against 
the " land side," projecting four or five inches above the 
surface, after which the hoe is required to fill up the fur- 
row", aTid tlioroughly cover the roots. (See fig. 20.) Care 
should be taken to pull a portion of sand upon the vines, 
in order to bend them down upon the surface, as shown 
in fig. 21. 

This causes t.hem to sucker up and grow more luxuri- 



PLAXTIXG THE VIXES. 53 

antiv than when left standing upright, to be swayed by 
the winds. 

The labor of planting vines is generally performed bv 
women ; cue, taking a bundle under her arm, drops the 




Ti'j:. 20.— planting in drills. 



vines in the drills, while another follows after her with a 
hoe. The average price paid the women is 75 cents each 
per day ; the whole cost of making the furrows, droppinix 
and covering the vines, amounts to about 88 per acre. 
In striking out cranberiy ground with a plow, it is im- 




Fiof. "21. — PROPER POSITION OF VINES. 

portant to have the land shies of the furrow as nearlv as 
possible the same way ; and this may be done bv o;oino- 
down one side of the meadow and up the other, or by 



54 



CRANBERRY CULTURE. 



striking it out in " lands," letting the plow run out at the 
ends. The object in doing this is to obtain a uniform 
distance between the rows. 

If the furrows were made in the same manner as for 
corn or potatoes, and the vines dropped on the land side, 
the work, when finished, would look very irregular, pre- 

_ j^T,- 

Fi<^. 22.— INCORRECTLY PLANTED. 

Slanting an appearance somewhat like that represented in 
fig. 22. When correctly planted, the vines appear as in 
fig. 23. 

The quantity of vines required to plant an acre is ten 
barrels, the cost at present being $3 per barrel. If sent 
to a distance, the expense of freight and barrels would 
be additional. Upon soils disposed to become foul with 
grass, more vines are necessary, because they have the 
weeds and grass to contend with ; and the greater their 
numbers, the more complete will be their victory. 

But if more than ten barrels per acre are needed, they 
should be put on by diminishing the distance between 

Fig. 23. —CORRECTLY PLANTED. 

the rows, and not by increasing the number of vines in a 
})lace, as the plants die if crowded. It is best, in most 
cases, to use a moderate supply of vines for planting; 
they then form a new and even mat over the ground. 

When they are placed in rows, although the interme- 
diate spaces may become entirely matted, the rows will 
remain visible, and serve as valuable guides to the pick- 
ers, each one taking the space between two of them. 

4th. Planting by Pressure is, perhaps, the best mode 
of putting out vines upon all soils, prepared by spreading 



PLAXTING THE YIXES. 



55 



sand over muck. This is accomplished by first marking 
out the ground, fourteen inches apart, with a small sled, 
having three runners ; the vines are then dropped on 
these marks, about two in a place, and fourteen inches 
apart, and pressed into the ground with a spade-like tool, 
placed on the vines about one-fourth the distance from 
root to top. We have used a forked stick for the same 
purpose; but the blade is an improvement, it being more 
easily forced into the soil, and when removed, it leaves no 
hole around the plants to dry their roots. It is important 
that the vines should be pressed in at an inclination, thus 




Fig. 24. — PLANTING BY PRESSURE. 

bringing the tops near the ground, and causing them to 
sucker up better than when pressed down perpendicularly, 
for the reason pre\?iously given in drill planting. Figure 
24 shows this manner of planting. The roots of the 
vines should be brouglit into close proximity wdth the 
muck below, that they may be stimulated to grow more 
rapidly. Women maybe allowed to drop vines in this 
way, but they should never be chosen for pressing them 
into the ground. As a leaning posture is required, their 
skirts have a tendency to drag the vines out of place and 
waste them. 

CovERixG THE VINES w^iTH SAXD was tried, a few years 
since, by Theodore Budd, an enterprising cranberry 



56 



CRANBERRY CULTURE. 



grower, of Burlington Co., New Jersey. He first spread 
the vines evenly over the surface of the meadow, and then 
entirely covered them with sand — putting it on about one 
inch thick. The young shoots came up through this cov- 
ering as thick as wheat, and made an excellent growth, 
quickly matting the whole surface. This method requires 
more vines than the two last named, but by adopting it, 
a crop will be produced sooner than by planting in any 
other way. 

The vines must not be spread far ahead of the men 
who are covering them, lest they be injured by the sun 
and wind, although they will endure as much exposure as 
most hardy plants. 

Sowing Cuttings may be done successfully, a fact 
which go 'S far toward establishing a reputation of hardi- 
ness for the cranberry vine. The vines are passed through 
a straw-cutter, and chopped in pieces about one incii 
long; they are then sown like oats, upon an evenly pre- 
pared surface, and harrowed in. It is essential that this 
be done very early in the spring, and upon moist land, so 
as to enaV)le the cuttings to become well rooted before 
the heats of summer. A patch put out in this way may 
be seen on the grounds of Shinn & Allston, near Turkey- 
town, N. J., in a thriving condition, but this system is not 
recommended for general culture. 

Great care should be taken, in selecting the vines, to 
procure those which yield large berries ; the shape of the 
fi'uit is of little consequence ; the great desideratum 
being, as previously stated, to obtain berries of good size 
and color. 

As it is impossible to judge from the a})pearance of a 
cranberry vine what shape or size its fruit will be, it is 
best either to become acquainted with the quality of the 
vines before using them, or to purchase them of reliable 
parties. Even with these precautions it would be diffi- 
cult to obtain a large lot of vines, producing berries of a 



MAXAGEMENT OF MEADOWS. 



57 



uniform shape or size ; but a good class of vines may be 
supplied in large quantities from many well established 
cultivated meadows in New Jersej^ 

More care is needed among cultivators of tiie cranberry 
in propagating valuable varieties. There is no reason 
why we should not have a Triumph of America," or an 
" Early Wilson " among cranberries as well as among 
strawberries or blackberries. Large red ci anberries are 
certainly the most valued in the city markets, and by 
planting this variety only, upon our meadows, the profits 
mio:ht be increased. 

But it must be admitted by all, that successful cranberry 
culture depends not so mucli upon the variety of vines as 
upon the soil in which they are planted, and the manage- 
ment afterwaid. 

Attempts have been made to grow them from the seed ; 
but owing to the longer time required for the vines to be- 
come profitable, and the increased expense of keeping 
them clean, this system has been abandoned for general 
culture. 

New seedling varieties may be obtained by planting 
the seeds, near the surface, in a soil composed of three 
parts sand and one part muck. This should be in a warm 
situation, and kept always slightly moist while the plants 
are young. 

CHAPTER VI. 

MAN' AGE MENT OF MEADOWS. 

After the vines are properly set out, the next considera- 
tion is to get them matted over the ground as quickly as 
possible, in order that they may yield a full crop, and re- 
ward the grower for the labor and care bestowed upon 
them. Indeed, it is no uncommon thing for the first full 
3* 



58 



CRAXBEKKY CULTURE. 



crop of cranberries to pay for all the expense of purchas- 
ing, preparing, and setting out the land. 

But, until the vines are matted, one very important rule 
must be observed, viz: Keejy the meadom thoroughly 
drained^ at least one foot below the surlace. It will 
generally be found necessary to go deeper than that to effect 
a thorough drainage^ w^ithout which the vines will not 
thrive, even if planted on ground well adapted to their 
growth. By allowing the meadow to remain very wi-t, 
the vines may be almost prevented from growing at all. 

AThen properly drained, a good meadow will become 
matted in three years, although some of the most perma- 
nent plantations have required a longer time to come into 
full bearing, owing to the dampness of the soil. 

For two or three years after putting out the vines, it is 
best to keep the ground free from grass and weeds, that 
the plants may have undisputed possession. During the 
first year a hoe may be used : but afterward, the grass 
nmst be pulled by liand, or taken out with a trowel, to 
avoid loosening the runners which are rooted in the soil. 
This weeding by iiand, may sound like a very formidable 
midertaking, but generally it is not, since the turf has 
been all removed, and poor sand is not very encouraging 
to tlie development of plant life. It should be done in 
August, before the weeds go to seed. 

For two years past, it has cost only 8'2. 50 an acre per 
annum, to clean our 20-acre meadow." and next season 
the expense Avill not be so great, as the vines are becom- 
ing well matted over the ground. 

Some growers assert that it is not necessary to dig up 
rushes, claiming that the vines will, in time, root them otit, 
provided they are mowed off evury season, to prevent the 
formation of seeds. 

Experience has taught us that it does not pay to remove 
the Double-seeded Millet'* f'om newly prepared bogs. 
This (fig. 25) is an annual, producing seed imder ground 



MAXAGEMEXT OF MEADOWS. 



59 




Fig. 25. — DOUBLE-SEEDED MILLET. — { Amphicavpum Purshii.) 



60 



CRAXBERRT CULTURE. 



as well as above. It makes its appearance on savannas 
and heath ponds directly after the ground is broken, al- 
though, perhaps, not a specimen was visible before. Dur- 
ing the first year its growth is vigorous, and somewhat 
alarming ; the next, it comes up from the seeds again, but 
does not grow so luxuriantly; and the third season, al- 
though the seeds germinate, the plants have a sickly, yel- 
low appearance, and most of tliem fail to perfect their 
fruit ; after this they almost entirely disappear. 

In alluding to cranberry meadows. Dr. J. Gibbons Hunt, 
a well-known naturalist of Philadelphia, says : A very 
curious grass comes up in these bogs after the ttirf hris 
been removed. It has tufted, flat, lanceolate leaves, cloth- 
ed with bristly hairs. It flowers both above and under the 
ground. Botanists call it Millet-grass, or Amphicarpum 
PurshiL The aerial fiower is borne on a loose branching, 
panicle, with fruit rarely ripening. Below the soil subterra- 
nean peduncles branch ofi* from the roots, bearing on their 
ends perfect, solitary flowers, which are followed by ma- 
ture fruit. Thus a double life seems to be given to th's 
humble grass, and, for a weary time, like Patience herself, 
it has been waiting and flowering beneath the ttirf, j^lant- 
ing its unseen and unsunned seeds. Another species of 
Amphicarpum has been discovered in Florida on the 
banks of the Apalachicola Eiver by Doctor Chapman, 
who named it Ampliicarjmm Floridaniim. It has similar 
subterranean flowers^ and is a more robust plant, with 
a more creeping habit than the northern species. 

The millet does but little injury to the vines, as it gradu- 
ally decreases as they increase and have need for the 
ground. Lai'ge sums of money, perhaps thousands of dol- 
lars, have been unnecessarily expended in removing this 
grass from cranberry meadows. 

Mill-pond bottoms sometimes become very grassy after 
the cranberry vines are planted, yielding, occasionally, a 
ton of hay per acre, and presenting an appearance rather 



MANAGEMENT OF MEADOWS. 



61 



discouraging to the novice ; he should not despair if the 
vines are on a situation adapted to them ; the grass may 
be overcome witliout hand pulling, by simply mowing it 
off in summer, to prevent its going to seed, and then 
keeping the water up late in the spring — say until about 
the first of June. 

This late flooding is quite destructive to the grass, 
without being injurious to the young vines, which start 
off vigorously when the pond is drained, and make good 
use of the advantage they have gained. 

Josepli Hinchman succeeded in subduing the grass 
upon his most valuable meadow by summer mowing and 
late spring flooding. 

Thorough drainage is required to obtain a growth of 
vines ; but after the mat is completed, there are certain 
times when considerable moisture is necessary to insure a 
good crop ; for instance, during a season like that of 1869, 
when a drouth, occurring in June, blasted fifty per cent 
of the blossoms upon most plantations ; on meadows 
naturally moist, and on those which were irrigated by 
raising the water in numerous ditches, the loss \\ as much 
less. Again, there are other advantages in having a 
moist surface (not surface water), while the fruit is grow- 
ing ; viz : it causes the late formed berries, of which there 
are always more or less, to grow up to the full size, when, 
without moisture, they would come to naught ; and it also 
checks the i avages of the fruit worm. 

But where irrigation is resorted to, care must be taken 
to lower the water in the ditches by the middle of August, 
that the vines may be enabled to make a good fall 
growth. If this is not done, the crop of the coming year 
may be seriously damaged. The fruit-buds are formed in 
the fall, and are visible at the ends of the new growth on 
the upright branches. 

The Management or Improvement of Natural 
Bogs is worthy of our considoration. James A. Fen wick, 



62 



CRANBERRY CULTURE. 



one of the most successful operators upon natural bogs 
in Xew Jersey, says: "They must be drained gradu- 
ally and carefully at first, to enable the vines to settle by 
degrees, and become well established upon a firm founda- 
tion." 

As before stated, cranberry vines, in their normal con- 
dition, frequently grow among sphagnum moss, some 
distance above the solid muck ; and when this moss is 
suddenly made dry by ditching, the vines are liable to 
perish before they become rooted in the muck. Hence 
the necessity of draining carefully at first, although, in 
time, the bog may be completely drained. 

Where sand is accessible, under a natural meadow, the 
vines may be greatly improved by digging trenches two 
rods apart, and spreading the sand among the grass and 
vines. Even muck, taken from trenches where sand could 
not be reached, and spread over the surface, lias benefited 
vines growing on muck bottoms. J. A. Fen wick states 
that, from $100 spent in trenching and sanding natural 
vines, he was benefited to the amount of 81,000. 

Natural meadows require flooding every winter as well 
as those under cultivation. 

Fertilizers. 

Many attempts have been made to increase the growth 
of the cranberry vine by using fertilizers ; but, as yet, 
nothing has been found so good, in all respects, as swamp 
muck. 

All the necessary elements, excepting those obtained 
from air and water, are contained in sand and muck, and, 
as previously stated, the proper soil is a mixture of the 
two. If muck is in excess, it sliould be diluted with sand; 
and if sand is overabundant, it may be enriched with 
muck. Even after the vines have been planted upon poor 
soil, a top-dressing of muck will greatly improve them. 



MA^^AGEMEXT OF MEADOWS. 



63 



Peruvian guano causes a wonderful growth of vines, 
and, in some cases, might prove beneficial if applied with 
care, but little guano being required. 

Ashes, provided they are spread on the ground before 
plowing, may be profitably used where muck is deficient. 

Lime^ morl^ and stable man^ire might improve the 
vines, but, since they have a tendency to bring m weeds 
and grass, we would not recommend their use. 

Mud deposits, formed by the washing of lich uplands, 
are so productive of grass, etc., that successful cranberry 
culture upon them would be exceedingly imcertain, such 
is the character- of many of our river marshes and mead- 
ows, subject to tidal influence; and it is very doubtful 
wliether sufficient drainage to grow cranberries could be 
obtained by diking, ditching, and building sluice gates, 
as is done in reclaiming grass lands. 

Flooding might be resorted to under such circumstances 
for subduing the grass, but these situations are not con- 
sidered desirable, and the chances of success would not 
warrant one in spending large sums of money upon them 
without first testinsc the Qcround in a small wav. 

Unlike most other agricultural productions, cranberry 
vines, growing upon land adapted to them, require no 
expenditures for manure or tilling to keep them in good 
condition. When once established, they will last for 
years, yielding good returns as l egularly as ordinary farm 
crops. 

These facts, in connection with the high price of the 
fruit, render cranberry culture a most remtmerative busi- 
ness. 

It requires a very considerable expenditure of labor 
and money to start the business, and after that, much pa- 
tience to reap the reward ; but when once a good meadow 
comes into bearing, he who owns it may congratulate 
himself upon possessing something that is pleasant to 
look after, and profitable withal. 



64 



CRANBERRY CULTURE. 



CHAPTER VII. 
FLOODIXG. 

It is now admitted by all, that winter flooding is desira- 
ble, and, in most cases, essential to successful cranberry 
culture, although some j^lantations have been renmnera- 
tive without it. Flooding is necessary to insure perma- 
nence to the vines, and protection against the ravages of 
insects. 

Savannas are generally looked upon as being less per- 
manent than swamp bottoms ; but we know of no instance 
of vines running out," even on savannas where winter 
flooding has been resorted to ; on the contrary, worn out 
meadows have been renewed by building dams about 
them, and raising tlie water to cover the vines during 
winter and early spring. 

Flooding not only prevents injury from the cold blasts 
of winter, and destroys insects and their eggs, but the 
water has also an important fertilizing efiect, which is 
particularly valuable if the plantation is deficient in 
muck. Streams flowing tlirough cedar swamps, or rich 
muck bottoms, become freighted with minute particles of 
veofetable matter, which g^raduallv settle to the bottom 
of the pond, and form a fine top-dressing for the vines. 

Young plantations should not be flooded until the third 
winter after planting, unless the vines are infested with 
worms, or the groimd is dis|)osed to heave the roots out 
while freezing and thawing, which it will assuredly do if 
the soil is composed of clear muck, or a portion of the 
oxide of iron. The object, in not covering young vines 
with water, being to avoid any unnecessary packing of 
the soil, and also to allow them to commence growing as 
early as possible in the spring. 

Some difierence of opinioa exists as to the proper time 



FLOODIXG. 



65 



for submerging cranberry mefidows in the fall, some as- 
serting tiiat it may be done any time after picking the 
fruit. This, hoT^ever, is an error; for the reason that the 
vines are known to make a very considerable growth 
after the first frost, and the berries should be gathered, if 
possible, before frost. 

It is a safe rule to raise the water as soon as the tem- 
perature becomes sufficiently low to stop vegetation. The 
time will be indicated by the vines commencing to assume 
a dull red appearance. 

The water should be k^pt up all winter, and not let off 
until, say, the 20th of April or 1 st of May in New Jersey, 
and the 20th of May, or 1st of June, in the latitude of 
Massachusetts. 

It is not safe to keep the water on savannas in Xew 
Jersey later than the 1st of May, as it would retard the 
growth, and render the blossoms and newly formed ber- 
ries liable to be injured by the hot sun or drouths in the 
latter part of June or first of July. 

Springy bottoms, which are always moist during' the 
dryest seasons, may safely be flooded until the 10th (^r 
even the 15th of May without injury to the crop, be- 
cause there will be sufficient moisture in the soil to perfect 
all the late and small berries. 

Floodirig to destroy insects, etc., is alluded to in the 
chapter devoted to Enemies and Difficulties. 

In order to flood a meadow efl'ectually, it is necessary 
to construct a substantial dam across the lower end of 
it, and, in doing this, no pains should be spared to render 
the barrier reliable and permanent. 

It is false economy to carelessly throw up an embank- 
ment, with turf or muck under it, leaving roots or brush 
scattered through the sand, and expect it to hold a liquid 
which is always striving to obey the one great law of its 
nature ; viz., to seek a level. Turf fences or muck will 
not answer the purpose ; the only dam for a cranberry 



66 



CRANBERRY CULTURE. 



meadow that may be depended upon, is one constructed 
of clean sand, free from roots, or pieces of turf, and 
built upon the solid sand or loam, as the case may be. 

If it be desired to build a dam across a meadow con- 
taining muck six feet in depth, dig a road entirely through 
the muck^ and lay the dam upon a sure foundation, or it 
will not stand the test. 

Before commencing the dam, learn where you want it, 
and then how large the flood will require it to be. Its 
locality must depend u})on circumstances ; its dimensions 
upon the height of w^ater required to flood tlie meadow. 
To determine this last point, level the ground with a 
theodolite, if one is at hand ; if not, take an ordinary 




Fii;,-. 26. — LEVELLING. 

spirit-level and two boards, and proceed to the lowest 
spot along the line of the proposed dam ; there drive the 
boards perpendicularly into the earth, eighteen inches 
apart, and rest the spirit-level on top of them, pointing to 
the highest knoll you intend covering with water. Bring 
it to a level by tapping on top of tbe highest board. 

Then send your assistant to the knoll, with instructions 
to erect a pole, and move a w^hite target up or down it, 
as you direct him, by the motion of your hand. 

By sighting along the top of the spirit-level you will 
be enabled to judge when the target is level with your 
eye. 

Having established this point on the pole — by a pencil 
mark — the difl*erence in the height of the two positions 
may be ascertained by subtracting the height of the mark 



FLOODIXG, 



or 



on the pole from the height of the spirit-level above the 
surface of the ground. 

Bv way of illustration, let the mark. A, (fig. 26) be one 
foot hifih, and the top of the level, B, be three feet above 
the ground, C. Then will BC, less AD, equal two feet. 
And it will require a dam two feet high, erected at the 
point. C, to raise water to the top of the knoll, D. 

Having thus determined the greatest depth of the re- 
quired pond, build your dam accordingly, making it fully 
as thick as the water will be deep ; for instance, if it is 
found that a '* head " of six feet will be required, dig a 




Fii;-. 27. — A DAM FKOTECTED BV TUliF. 

ditch, six feet wide, entirely throngh the muck^ and fill it 
up with clean sand for the foundation of the dam. On 
each side of this foundation erect a substantial turf wall, 
six feet thick, to support and protect the true dam, which 
is afterward made by filling up and packing with sand 
the space between the walls. 

The dam should be made somewhat higher than it 
would generally be required, to prevent freshets from 
overflowing and washing it away. Fig. 2r represents a 
dam such as we have described. 

The object of having turf on each side is not to hold 
water, but to economize the sand by supporting it just 



68 



CRANBERRY CULTURE. 



where it is needed, and also to protect the dam from the 
rippling water, which otherwise would undermine and 
wash it down. 

The dimensions given for the dam may seem large, but 
if you attempt to construct one upon the muck, or make 
the width of the dam less than the required depth of the 
w^ater, or the protecting walls narrower than the bank 
of sand, thinking, thereby, to save expense, you may be 
sadly disappointed. 

" A thing worth doing at all is worth doing well," is 
an old saying, and it is particularly applicable to the 
building of dams ; for the water will be sure to attack 
the embankment in the weakest place, and a small leak 
will drain a great pond. 

A dam was once constructed in the manner described, 
excepting that the turf walls were about half SiS thick as 
the embankment of sand. The result was, upon raising 
the w^ater, the sand settled down, and forced the walls 
asunder, threatening to let all the mighty waters out," 
which, no doubt, would have been the consequence, had 
not one of the proprietors adopted the expedient of driv- 
ing down large stakes on each side of the dam, and con- 
necting them with stout wires, thus sustaining the walls, 
and preventing them from separating further. 

A dam near Tom's River, N. J., built at a cost of 
$6,000, to flood a meadow containing three hundred 
acres, broke recently, because of a weakness under the 
floodgates. The massive gates and a portion of the dam 
were carried away, which, in connection with having the 
water drained ofi* in midwinter, has damaged the owner 
to the amount of about $2,000, besides doing considerable 
injury to land and mill owners located on the stream 
below. 

Floodgates are necessary in all dams of any considera- 
ble size, in order to regulate the depth of water in the 
pond ; but for savannas or heath ponds, where the sup- 



FLOODimx. 



69 



ply of water is dependent upon rains, the damming of a 
ditch, or filling up with sand, a small cut in the embank- 
ment will frequently be found sufficient. 

For a small stream, and low head, floodgates may be 
constructed in summer by any ordinary workman, as fol- 
lows : Select cedar, or other lasting timber, (as the water 
will be drawn off in warm weather, thus leaving the 
wood-work in the most favorable condition for decay) 
and drive down thick planks on each side of the ditch, 
witli their broadsides towards the outlet, for posts. Then 
fix a plank, ten or twelv.e inches wide, in the bottom of 
the ditch, to serve as a mu'1-silK and nail it firmly to the 
posts, letting it extend five or six feet beyond them, to 
form a portion of the wings. These wings are afterward 




mud .nil 



FiiT 28. — FLOODGATE. 

boarded up along the dam, on each side of the gates, and 
a sheeting is constructed, reaching entirely through the 
dam, to convey the water off. (See fig. 28.) 

The corners between the wings and sheeting, as well 
as the space under the floodgates, should be filled up 
with clean sand. Boards, sliding in grooves above the 
mud-sill, are employed to raise or lower the head of water. 

In large rapid streams, or with high heads, floodgates 
made in this way would not be efficient. For these, 
plank, driven down in front of the mad-sill, is the only 
sure method of preventing the water from flowing under 
the gate. 

Preparations for cranberry culture have become so ex- 



70 



CRANBERRY CULTURE. 



tensive of late, that it has frequently been found neces- 
sary to construct massive dams of eart-i, similar to those 
used for mill-ponds ; and where the surface to be covered 
is very large, it is better to incur this expense than to 
leave the vines uncovered in winter. 

Where a small head of water, say about one foot only 
is required, the dam may be made by throwing up against 
the turf fence an embankment of sand, and sodding the 




Fio:. 39. — EMBANKMENT SUPPORTED BY A TUKF FENCE. 



face of it with turf, to prevent its being washed down. 
(See fig. 29.) 

A dam of this character may be seen at our twenty- 
acre meadow, near New Lisbon, rendering efficient ser- 
vice where a head of two feet is required. 

The same rule applies to this as to other barriers for 
holding water, viz. : No muck should be used in its con- 
struction, and, if possible, allow it to settle thoroughly 
before raising a permanent head. 



ENEMIES AND DIFFICULTIES. 



71 



CHAPTER VIII. 

ENEMIES AND DIFFICULTIES. 

It has been said that horticnlture is a battle with in- 
sects. The cranberry grower soon learns that his culture, 
peculiar as it is in many respects, is not exempt from in- 
sect enemies. These are "usually the chief obstacles in 
his path, and frequently baffle his efforts and disappoint 
his brightest anticipations. To successfully fight the 
insect enemies of the Cranberry, it is necessary, as with 
those of other crops, to first learn the habits of the dep- 
redators, and their mode of attack. Those will be the 
most successful in repeUing insects who give to their 
habits the most intelligent and careful observation. 

Fruit ^VoR^^. 

Soon after the hopeful cultivator has established his 
plantation, and w^hile he is anxiously watching its first 
fruits, he observes some of the berries prematurely turn- 
ing red, shriveling, and, before picking time, entirely dry- 
ing up. This destruction is caused by the fruit worm. 

This larva bears a striking resemblance to tl^e ordinary 
apple worm, and, like that, is lazy and sluggish in its 
habits. "We have reason to believe that the perfect 
insect lays its eggs under the tender skin of the newly- 
formed berry. This egg is hatched by heat, and the 
young grub eats its way into the heart of the fruit, caus- 
ing certain destruction. It has been asserted ty some 
cultivators that one worm will destroy one berry only ; 
but this is a mistake ; the same worm will frequently de- 
stroy at least two. This is fully established by the fact 
that two berries may be found ^vith a hole passing di- 
rectly from one to the other, at tlie point w^here they 
come in contact — one being red, and the other fresh and 



72 



CRAXBERKY rULTL liE. 



green, with a nearly full-grown worm in it ; as further 
evidence, we may state that worms have been discovered 
on the passage fiom one berry to another. 

This premature coloring of the berry — the effect of the 
fruit worm — has been observed in New Jersey as early as 




Fig. 30. — WORK OF THE FRUIT WORM. 



the 10th of July, on the dry est meadows, and later on 
those that are moist. Its ravages continue until the 1st 
of September, after which the remains of the fruit are 
visible in the form of dry, hollow shells, from which the 
w^orms have disappeared. These shells may be counted 
upon a small space, and the damage ascertained by pro- 
portioning them to the amount remaining sound. In dry 



EKEMIES AXD DIFFICULTIES. 



seasons, the loss resulting from the fruit worm frequently 
amounts to one-half of tiie berries formed; and. in som(^. 
cases, it has been so great as to leave only one-tenth of 
the fmit to come to perfection. The Avork of the Fruit- 
worm is illustrated in figure 30. 

The defense employed against this voracious M'oriu 
consists in keeping the surface of the meadow moist, from 
the formation of the fruit until toward the middle of 
August ; if it is not so naturally, resort to irrigation. The 
effect of moisture at this time seems to be to keep the 
bottom cool, and thereby to prevent the hatching of tlie 
worm — after the same manner that weevils are av oided, 
by allowing the grain to become f'd'y ripe before it is 
gathered into barns ; thus preventing its heating in bulk, 
and hatcliing the weevils. 

James A. Fenwick says : I have ol^served natural 
patches, a rod or two wide, sloping to a stream, where, 
next the stream, not a berry would be injured, while on 
the dryer part three-fourths were destroyed — this destruc- 
tion reaching nearer the stream in proportion as the sea- 
son was dry or wet. It is natural to infer that t:ie egg 
is laid in the berry ; and on the moist land the tempera- 
ture is not sufficiently high to hatch it, whiie on dry 
ground it is." 

Mr. Fish observes: ''When fully grown, the worms 
enter the ground and spin their cocoons within a few 
inches of the surface. The cocoons are covered with 
grains of sand, and are hardly distiuguisliable from small 
lumps of earth. They remain in the ground all winter. 
I do not positively know the perfect insect, as I have 
ncA'er been able to rear it in-d<jors. In the spring of 
1867 I bred two species of Ichneumons from these co- 
coons that had remained in the house over winter.'' 



4 



CRAXBERRY CULTURE. 



Vine WoR:iL 

There is another species of larva which feeds upon the 
leaf of the cranberry vine, and, when uncontrolled, works 
early destruction upon the whole plantation ; spinning 




Fig. 31. — VI>-E WOBM AND ITS WORK. 

a. Larva; b. Moth, iiarin-al size : do., magiiiiied. 



its web around the leaves and upright branches, it binds 
them together, and destroys them. This larva looks very 
much like the fruit worm in size and color, excepting that 



ENEMIES AXD DIFFICULTIES. 



its liead is darker, and its body more hairy. Figure 31 
shows the larva and perfect insect of the Vine worm, and 
the appearance of the vines after its attacks. 

James A. Fenwick, speaking of the vine worm, says: 
" It feeds on the under side of the leaf, leaving nothing 
but the veins, and increases rapidly to a countless multi- 
tude, causing the meadow infested by them to appear as 
if scorched by fire ; hence their name, ' fire worm.' Upon 
observing a meadow infested by them in April, I f )und 
the worms feeding upon the leaves, and partially sur- 
rounded with webs. In June I noticed they liad webs 
enclosing clusters of vines (ignorant persons thinking 
them spider webs), apparently for shelter from the 
weather. Upon approaching them with a heavy tread, the 
worms suddenly disappeared, dropping to the ground ; 
but, stepping noiselessly, and touching the webs, the 
worms would drop into my hand, making, at the same 
time, vigorous efforts to escape. By the close of July 
not a worm could be seen, but the webs remained; 
doubtless the worms had enclosed themselves in cocoons. 
In August, the millers arose in numbers around my feet, 
taking short flights, and again settling upon the ground ; 
by September these had disappeared, and the worms had 
increased a hundred-fold; evidently showing that two 
generations of these insects were hatched in one season." 

In Packard's Guide to the Study of Insects may be 
found the foUow^ing minute description of the vine worm^ 
and the moth, of which it is the larva: "Mr. Fish has 
discovered an undescribed species of Anchylopera^ w^hich 
feeds in the cranberry, and which we may call the Cran- 
berry Anchylopera [A, vacciniana). The moth is dark 
ash, the fore-wings being whitish, dusted with brown and 
reddish scales, w^ith white, narrow bands on the costa, al- 
ternating with broader yellowish-brown ban^s, five of 
which are several times larger than the others, and from 
four of them regular indistinct lines cross the w'mg. The 



T6 



CRAXBERRY CULTURE. 



first line is situated just beyond the inner third of the 
wing, and is often obsolete. The second line is the 
largest, and is slightly bent over once in the middle of 
the wing. There is a large brown spot parallel to the 
costa, being situated on the angle. The third line is 
oblique, and slopes before reaching the inner angle, and 
is forked on the costa, while the fourth line is a short, 
a|)ical, diffuse, irregular line. The apex of the wing is 
dark brown, and is a little more acute than usual in tlie 
genus. The length of a fore-wing is the twentieth of an 
inch. It lavs its eojo-s on the leaves during^ the month of 
August, and a new brood of larvae appears in September, 
though they hatch mostly in the following spring, or 
early in June, and become fully grown in July. 

" The larva, seen from above, is much like that of 
Ijoxotcenia rosaceana^ but the head is a little larger in 
proportion to the rest of the body, being as wide as the 
body in its thickest part The body is more hairy, while 
the prothorax is not dark. The chrysalis is rather slender, 
the body being contracted at the base of the abdomen, 
on the rings of which there are dorsal rows of fine spines. 

^' Mr. Fish writes me that these larvas, called the Cran- 
berry Vine Worms, hatch about the first of June from 
eggs that have remained upon the leaves of the plant all 
winter. They commence to feed upon the tender grov>^- 
ing shoots of the plant, drawing the leaves together with 
their web for shelter, concealing themselves, and feeding 
within. Before reaching their full size, they, if very 
numerous, almost wholly destroy the leaves and tender 
shoots, giving the whole bog a dark, dry appearance, as 
thougli a fire had been over it. This is why they are, in 
some places, known as 'fire worms.'' Having reached 
their full size, they spin up among the leaves, or among 
the dead leaves upon the ground. After remaining in the 
pupa state about ten or thirteen days, the moths come 
out, and deposit their eggs upon the leaves. 



EKEMIES AXD DIFFICULTIES. 



77 



"This year (1868) the moths were out the last of June 
and first of July. In fiye or six days the eggs hatched, 
and this second brood, which is usually the most destruc- 
tive, mostly changed to pupa on the 20th of July. On 
the 26th of July the first moth came out, and most were 
out before the 4th of An mist. Most of the es^s^s laid in 
August do not hatch until the following spring. I did 
succeed in finding two or three larvre in September, but 
they were rare at that time." 

In New Jersey, the laryae are quite common during the 
month of September, nnd may frequently be found in 
October. We are disposed to believe that many of them 
live through the winter in sheltered places, securely 
M rapped in their webs. Turf fences, and densely matted 
vines, not flooded, affording them a safe asylum. This 
opinion is confirmed by the fact that large-sized Inrvae 
may be found early in the spring ; and also from our hav- 
ing kept a worm in a cold room until March, with every 
indication of its living until May. 

The cranberry was not tiie principal food of the vine 
worm until it was brought under cultivation ; while 
growing naturally in bogs and swamps, where it was 
liable to be flooded during the winter and early spring, it 
was not well adapted to their requirements. The worm 
had made its home among the Featl:er-leaf {Cassandra 
calyculata) and Low-bush Huckleberry, until the days 
of cranberry culture, when it descended upon the new 
plantations, and threatened, for a time, their entire de- 
struction. But Yankee enterprise came to the rescue, 
the meadows were flooded^ and the worms defeated. 

By some it is supposed that there are four generations 
of these pests in one season ; however this may be, by 
destroying them once a year, they, will be rendered almost 
harmless. To work their destruction, keep the meadow 
flooded until the 10th of May, in New Jersey, and until 
near the 1st of June, in Massachusetts; or, cover the 



78 



CRAJS^BERKY CULTURE. 



vines with water just before they blossom^ while the fruit- 
buds are showing plainly, and hold it on for twenty-four 
hours^ but no longer, as the water injures the crop of 
friut if left on too long while the vines are in this state. 
The latter expedient can only be resorted to when a copi- 
ous stream is at hand. 

Plantations that have, to all appearances, become worth- 
less by the ravages of the fire worm, may be restored by 
flooding. This was illustrated on the " Willow Farm," 
near Medford, IST. J. Upon this tract osier willows had 
been planted among the cranberry vines, with the object 
of obtaining a double crop. But, like one who aims too 
high, and hits nothing, this planter lost both basket ma- 
terial and cranberi'ies ; for the worms, attacking the wil- 
lows, soon spread over the vines beneath, and spoiled all. 
The meadow remained in an unprofitable condition for 
several years, when, as a last resort, dams were construct- 
ed at considerable expense, and a head of water raised, 
whieh resulted in exterminating the worms, and shortly 
after (in 1867) a crop averaging one hundred bushels per 
acre was produced. This was quite a recommendation 
for the farm, and enabled the owner to dispose of it to 
good advantage. The next year a light crop was general 
throughout New Jersey, and the Willow Farm was not 
an exception ; but, in 1869, it again yielded handsome re- 
turns, and now no danger is apprehended from the ''fire 
worm." 

In locations where water cannot be commanded for 
winter flooding, other means must be adopted to destroy 
these insects. Professor Agassiz recommends building 
fires at night around the meadow, while the moths are in 
exi>;tence. The dazzling light attracts them, and many 
fall victims to the devouiing flames. 

The same principle is sometimes applied more efiectu- 
ally in the following manner, viz. : a large ball of cotton 
is tight' y wrapped in fine wire, and saturated with kero- 



ENEMIES AXD DIFFICULTIES. 



79 



sene ; it is then supported by wire over the middle of a 
cheese-box lid, for instance, with a handle attached, the 
lid being covered inside and out with fresh tar. Several 
men, armed with these weapons of offence, proceed to the 
meadow at night, and, with their lamps lighted, march 
over the vines within touching distance of each other, all 
the while moving their lights from side to side. The 
insects are stirred up and killed in the flames, or caught 
by the tar. For a new vine Tvorm, see p. 123. 

Grasshoppers axd Crickets. 

Grasshoppers and crickets sometimes commit serious 
depredations upon the growing fruit. When very numer- 
ous, they have been known to destroy one hundred bush- 
els of cranberries per acre. They do the damage by 
eating a small portion from the side of the fruit, thus 
causing it to shrivel, until nothing but a dry shell remains. 
These are easily distinguished from the hollow shells 
left by the fruit worm. Grasshoppers are most abundant 
upon meadows containing a large amount of grass; while 
crickets prefer to w^ork near turf fences, or on some locali- 
ty which affords them a good hiding-place. These facts 
offer strong inducements for having cranberry meadows 
thoroughly cleaned, i. e., free from grasses, brush, etc. It 
has been asserted that flooding will dispose of them; but 
as the season for their depredations, viz., during July and 
August, is hot, this would be attended with great risk of 
ruining the whole crop by scalding. The destructive 
visits of grasshoppers and crickets have not been very 
common to cranberry growers, and many have rested in 
the belief that, when they did come, all that was neces- 
sary was to raise the water, then hoist the gates, and let 
them float down stream. But this will not answer, for 
the reason that every recruit in that vast army has nimble 
legs which render him quite competent to " paddle his own 



80 



CRAJS^BEKRY CULTURE. 



canoe/' This water-cure was fully tested near Medford, a 
few years since, where an eye witness avers that he saw 
one specimen out beyond his depth actively engaofed in 
teach in g di vin g-scl i o ol. 

It is believed that deep flooding in winter, and clean cul- 
ture, are the surest means of avoiding the depredations of 
both crickets and grasshoppers. 

Musk-rats and Mice. 

Among the enemies of cranberry culturists may be 
numbered musk-rats and mice. The former sometimes in- 
jure the crop by crawling over the blossoms and fruit, 
and also in boring through dams and letting oil' the water 
at unseasonable times. 

The latter are addicted to the wasteful habit of eating 
the seeds, from the berries, both before and after picking, 
and leaving the remainder entirely worthless. Whole 
handfuls, treated in this way, may be found at times 
during picking season. The only remedy for these evils 
seems to be to trap the vermin. 

Frosts. 

Frosts occurring late in spring, or early in autumn, are 
seriously apprehended by the grt^wer. If they come 
towards the last of May, or first of June, the fruit-buds 
are liable to be destroyed : and if during September, or 
wliile the berries are white and unripe, the elfect is to 
soften and spoil them. 

The damaging results of spring frosts are avoided by 
flooding sufficiently laie to destroy the vine worm. This 
retards the growth of the vines, and buds are not formed 
until after the danger is past. Care must be taken, how- 
ever, not to retard the crop too much, lest it be overtaken 
by frost in the fall. 



E^STEMIES AKD DIFFICULTIES. 



81 



Upon some meadows, the fruit-buds in spring, or unripe 
berries in autumn, are destroyed by frost, while others in 
the same neighborhood escaj)e uninjured. Natural l ogs 
are more apt to suffer from this cause than those which 
h ive been sanded. This is partially owing to the dense 
covering of sphagnum, bushes, etc., keeping the swamp 
from becoming warmed during the day. In all cases 
where the soil is barren, deprived of vegetable growths, 
stony, or sandy, it becomes far hotter by the absorption 
of the sun's rays, and hence less liable to frosts than one 
that is covered with plants ; for instance, in the deserts 
of Africa, the heat of the sand often amounts to from 
122'^ to 140^ F., wliile upon the oases, where the surface 
is clothed in verdure, the temperature of the soil is always 
lower. 

Plants cool much more rapidly by nocturnal radiation 
than the earth, and this fact, in connection with their 
being at a lower temperature at sundown, is sufficient to 
explain why frost is deposited sooner upon vines growing 
among mosses and grass than it is upon those cultivated 
upo:i beds of sand. 

But even Avhen the temperature is sufficiently low to 
produce frost on cultivated meadows, the berries some- 
times escape without injury. 

It is a peculiarity of frost that, when removed giadu- 
ally, it loses its power to destroy. Even tender garden 
plants, when frosted, may sometimes be saved by throw- 
ing cold water on them early in the morning. 

When frost forms on vines in a swamp, it remains until 
the rising sun dispels it rapidly, thus causing destruction 
among the tender bu'ls and green berries, while upon 
some cultivated meadows, when a slight frost forms dur- 
ing the night, the sand, by reason of its conducting power, 
thaws it gradually, without any injury resulting there- 
from. 

James A. Fenwick observes that "cranberries suffer 
4* 



82 



CRANBERRY CULTURE. 



much more from early frosts during drouths thnn when 
meadows are moist, particularly if they are covered with 
old vines and dry grass ; these being non-conductors, the 
frost remains longer in the morning; and when the direct 
rays of the sun fall upon the vines, the thawing is sudden, 
and the fruit is softened." He says, further : " I have ob- 
served the effect of frost upon bogs during drouths, 
when all the berries appeared the same before sunrise, but 
before noon, those growing on o'd, thick vines, among 
grass, were softened, while on sanded surfaces they 
escaped. Berries, on a strip where the vines (in a natui al 
bog) had been covered with sand, thrown from a ditch, 
being firm and hard, w^hile on both sides of this strip 
they were softened." 

Excessive Heat. 

When berries begin to change from green to white, a 
temperature of 85°, F., will soften many of them. This 
fact will cause the culture of cranberries to be confined 
to a line a little south of New Jersey, as the heat of 
September (the ripening season) must increase to the 
southward, so that, although the fruit may be grown, it 
is likely to be of an inferior quality. 

During the summer of 1869, one very hot day was suf- 
ficient to destroy hundreds of bushels of cranberries in 
New Jersey. The berries, being partly c<»oked, remained 
on the vines in a soft, worthless condition, until picking 
time, much to the annoyance of the pickers, who were re- 
quired to sort them out. 

The Scald or Eot. 

When cranberries upon the vines appear semi-trans- 
parent, as if they were partly cooked, they are said to be 
scalded. Since the first edition of this work was pub- 
lished, scalding has been investigated by Mr. J. A. Fen- 



EN"EMTES A^?"D DIFFICULTIES. 



83 



wick, Avho has treated the subject at considerable length. 
His essay will be found in the appendix on page 1^5. 

Grass and Rushes. 

Grass and rushes are not the least of the difficulties to 
be overcome. Tiiey should be removed with a hoe the 
first season after planting ; but during the second and 
third years it will be found necessary either to hand-pull, 
or carefully take them up w^ith a trowel, to avoid loosen- 
ing the runners. 

The millet-grass, being an exception, need not be dis- 
turbed, since it will gradually die of its own accord, and 
make room for the vines. (See Chapter VI.) Even 
rushes, it is said, if mowed twice a year, to prevent their 
going to seed, will give place to the vines. They fre- 
quently grow upon lands that are best adapted to cran- 
berry culture. 

Late flooding is also a means of destroying grass, etc. 
(The process is described in Chapter YI.) 

Moss. 

The moss {Polytrlchum commune)^ so prevalent upon 
lands containing ashes, is objectionable, in that it lifts 
the runners, and prevents them from rooting in the soil. 
We know^ of no better way of disposing of moss than to 
cover it with an inch or two of sand. 

This remedy may be applied even after the vines are 
one or two years old ; the runners should be covered, and 
the upright branches, if possible, left out. The vines, 
thus established, will put forth runners, and take posses- 
sion of the clean surface. 

Tip-Worm. 

There are other insects beside the vine and fruit worm, 
which interfere more or less with the cranberry crop, 



84 



CFvANBEKKY CULTUKE. 



which, as yet, growers have not discovered any remedy 
for; of these, Z. H. Small, of Harwich, Mass., writes us: 
"The most destructive, and the least likely to be noticed 
by growers, is a very small, orange-colored insect, called the 
* tip-worm,' which preys only on the newly-formed buds 
at the tip of the shoots. This insect is too small to be 
readily seen, but its presence is indicated by two leaves at 
the top of the shoot, standing erect, and concaved, or 
spoon-bowl shaped, on the inner, or bud side. It seems to 
do its work in the summer, while the berries are growing, 
and buds forming for the next year's crop. Very few 
yards are entirly free from this insect ; some can be found 
in almost any cranberry patch, and, in a cases, they 
have been known to destroy the whole crop." 

The tip- worm has been noticed slightly in New Jersey, 
but most cranberry growers in this State are unacquaint- 
ed with both the worm and its works. 

Spax-Woem. 

Z. H. Small also alludes to another insect, which he 
says is a peculiar kind of span-worm, of a dark-brown 
coloi", making its appearance in swamps, and, like the lo- 
custs of Egypt, leaving only destruction behind. A few 
patclies in Massachusetts are attacked by it almost 
every season, but, as yet, they know nothing of its 
parentage nor its hnbits, excepting what is witnessed in 
its work upon the vines. It comes when the fruit is abort 
setting, and there seems to be no way of destroying it 
except by raisinir the water, which, at thrd senson of the 
year, causes the fruit to drop off. This worm is unknown 
among cranberrry ciilturists in New Jersey. (See ap- 
pendix.) 

Lack oe Mo^^-et. 

Our list of dii?iculties would be incomplete did we not 
call attention to the very serious inconvenience which 



PICKING. 



85 



some have experienced in obtaining money to carry out 
their too extensively laid plans. We therefore recommend 
all beginners vrho are likely to fall into this difficulty, to 
count the cost before beginning, and allow a sufficient 
margin for contingencies. It is better to complete five 
acres than, in clearing fifteen, to exhaust the treasury, 
and leave the vines unplanted. 



CHAPTER IX. 
PICKING. 

If you, persevering reader, have practically followed us 
through all the matter-of-fact descriptions of locating the 
meadow, preparing it for the vines, and bringing it into 
the best possible condition for future profit, you may, per- 
haps, by this time, have experienced some of the weariness 
felt by us while living for months in a log cabin, laboring 
to accomplish the self-imposed task of setting out thirty- 
two acres of cranberry meadow. If so, we trust when you 
come to " picking" on your own account, you will realize 
some of the pleasure and satisfaction incident to finding 
the fruit of one's own labors alnmdant. 

The picking season is a pleasant one, for several reasons, 
to both picker and proprietor. The weather is proverbially 
fine in that most delightful of all months, October, when 
women and children turn out in great numbers to join 
the cranberry picking " frolic, with well-filled dinner 
baskets and happy countenances. 

The price for picking averages about fifty cents per 
bushel ; the hands, at this rate, making $1 per day, although 
a " right smart " picker can, where the beri'ies are numer' 
ous, earn $2 per day. 



86 



CRANBERRY CULTURE. 



In New Jersey, we commence picking on savannas 
about the middle of September ; but on our densely mat- 
ted swamp lands, it is deferred until the 1st of October; 
the time being regulated by the coloring of the berries. 
The work should commence as soon as they are suffi- 
ciently colored to command good prices, in order that 
they may all be gatherel before the first heavy frost, 
whicli may be looked for towards the la^t of October. 

Much care is requisite, while picking, to secure the ber- 
ries without bruising them. If 
they are poured into bags, and 
used for seats by the pickers, 
or thrown over their shoulders 
and carried half a mile or so, 
over a rough road, the loss from 
shrinkage and decay will be 
very considerable. But if the 
fruit is picked in peck baskets 

- ^ ^ ^ . iig-. 32.— PORTABLE FAN. 

or boxes, and poured direcily 

into the packaires in which they arc to be shipped, no loss 
from the handling will ensue. 

When dead vines, grass, etc., are gathered with tlie 
fruit, they may be blown out while it is being poured into 
the barrel, by using a very light, movable fan (fig. 82), 

made to clamp the edge of 
the barrel, somewhat in the 
same manner that a clothes- 
wringer is fastened to the 
Fig. 83.— PECK BOX. tub. This machine would 

also remove the dried or shriveled berries, and leave the 
fruit in a good marketable condition. 

The idea is for the picker to pour a peck of berries into 
the hopper. A, and turn the crank B while they are run- 
ning through. The invention is not patented, and we 
give it to the public for what it is worth. 

We have used peck boxes^ fig. 33, for picking in, made 





PICKING. 



87 



of light material, in the following manner, viz. : The sides 
are of boards, half an inch in thickness, 13^|^ inches long, 
and 6 inches wide ; about these were nailed thin strips of 
lath, 9 inches long, making the inside dimensions, when 
finished, 13^ |^ in. x 8 in. x 6 in., or equal to a heaped peck. 
A wooden handle is then screwed to the top. 

This box is cheaper than a peek basket, gi^'es good 
satisfaction, and, when properly constructed, will last 
several years. 

In order to pick the meadow over, if the vines have 
been planted in drills, let each picker tnke the space be- 
tween two of the original rows, pick on it for about one 
hundred yards to a given line, and then walk back and 
start a new row. The object in turning back is to prevent 
confusion, which w ill inevitably result if they are allowed 
to p'ck in bi'th directions, or if the rows are long and in- 
distinct. 

Where there are no rows visihle, but only a solid mat 
of vines, let the pickers all start in evenly, with instruc- 
tions to keep in a straight line, which they can nearly do, 
for a short distance, by the slowest pickers taking the 
narrowest strips, and vice versa. 

Sometimes, when no rows are to be seen, the meadow 
is staked off in lots of a few square rods each (this should 
be done in spring, to avoid trampling upon the berries), 
and regularly picked over, each picker taking one lot at 
a time. 

Some care is necessary, at first, to properly discipline 
the pickers, and cause them to pick clean as they go. 
This may be done by calling them back in a pleasant, but 
decided manner, to gathei* any berries that may have 
been found after them. They will soon take the hint, 
and perform their work carefully. 

It is very important that a reliable and expeditions 
method of keeping the pickers' accounts be ado])ted. es- 
pecially if you have a large quantity of fruit to gather. 



88 



CRANBERRY CULTL'RE. 



The old plan was to pick in baskets, and then pour the 
berries into bags, only taking them up at noon or night 
to be measured by the boss; the number of pecks or 
bushels picked by Till Willitts or Hannah Butler, being 
then credited to them in his book. The objections to this 
system were serious : the berries were imnecessarily han- 
dled ; the trouble of measuring a large lot of fruit, while 
the pickers were standing around, impatient to get home, 
was very great ; and the accounts, kept under such circum- 
stances, were not always to be depended upon. Hannah 
would keep her own account ; and if, in the settlement, 
yours did not correspond with it, what could you do but 
allow hers ? 

These inconveniences induced growers to look about 
for something better, which they found in the pech boxes 
or haslaets^ now used. The barrels are taken into the 
meadow, and deposited in some spot convenient to the 
pickers. When a peck box is filled, it is brought up and 
emptied by the picker, who in turn receives a ticket, 
somewhat like this. 

: 

ONE PECK. 

{Grower'' s Name.) 



Other tickets, of different colors, and larger denomina- 
tions — for instance, oxe bushel, and five bushels — are 
convenient to exchange for these. The object in having 
them of different colors is, that they may be distinguished 
at a glance, without reading. 

This does away with all measuring, all book accounts, 
and all mistakes. The tickets repi*esent so much money, 
and are frequently used as such at the neighboring stores. 

Another method is to have each peck box numbered, in 
large ficrures, and keep the accounts in a book ; the picker's 
number being used instead of her name. The advantage 



PICKING. 



89 



claimed for this plan is, that the proprietor may make 
the entry in ))is book without walking to the picker to 
present a ticket. It certainly allows him more liberty, 
and a better opportunity to look after the pickers, and 
keep them straight. 

Jos. C. Hinchman has adopted this mode : he uses a 
dilferent colored pencil for keeping the record of each 
day of the week, which enables him to tell just what has 
been done upon any day. When the hands are paid off 
the record is cancelled. 

The fruit may be put up for market either in barrels or 
boxes ; if the former are used, new barrels should be ob- 
tained, with a capacity of two bushels and three pecks 
each. When second-hand ones, holding three bushels, 
are used, they must be filled, and then will sell for no 
more than the standard barrel. 

The peck of fruit thus lost to the growler would pny 
for the new package. Xew " cranberry barrels " may be 
had in Philadelphia for fifty-eight cents apiece. 

If bushel boxes are preferred, they may be made in the 
following manner : Take a board, three-fourths of an inch 
thick, and 6 inches wide, and saw it into pieces 18 inches 
long ; then, using two of these pieces for ends, nail 
around them strips of ordinary plastering lath, 2 feet in 
length, leaving spaces between them for ventilation. The 
strength of the box may be increased by nailing strips 
over the ends of the lath ; these strips will also answer a 
good purpose in keeping the boxes slightly separated 
when stored in large quantities. These packages hold a 
heaped bushel, and cost, at this time, about twenty cents 
each. For Xew Jersey standard packages see p. 129. 

Barrels are the most desirable for shipping in ; but even 
where they are used, it is best to have a lot of ventilated 
boxes for drying wet berries in, previous to barreling 
them. They will be found useful during damp days, or 
early in the morning, while dew is on the fruit. 



90 



CRANBERRY CULTURE. 



Some years ago, when natural cranberry bogs in New 
Jersey were regarded as public property, even as the 
huckleberry bushes are now, any one being allowed to 
gather the fruit, the " cranberry scoop " was freely used. 
This combed the berries off, and also pulled out laro;e 
quantities of old vines and dead grasses, the removal of 
which, it is said caused the bogs to yield more abund- 
antly. 

The " cranberry rake " has been used in Massachusetts 
for gathering berries from cultivated meadows, but it is 
not destined to come into general use. Among young 
vines it is damaging to the runners ; but old meadows are 
evidently improved by its use, since many of the dead 
vines are thereby removed. 

The rake does not injure the fruit by bruising when 
handled carefully ; but its unprofitableness is owing prin- 
cipally to its wastefulness, too much fruit being dropped 
and trodden under foot. 

When berries are cheap, or difficulties arise in the way 
of picking, some advise flooding the crop in the fall, and 
leaving it to be gathered in the spring. But there are 
objections to this plan ; for instance, if the meadow is 
flooded early enough to save the fruit from frost, there is 
danger of injuring the fruit-buds, and destroying the 
hopes of a crop the ensuing year ; and if they are not 
covered until late, the berries will be frosted, and of little 
value in the market, besides being expensive to gather. 

Efforts have been made to perfect machinery for pick- 
ing cranberries, but so far without success. 



KEEPING. 



91 



CHAPTER X. 
KEEPING. 

Cranberries grown upon meadows covered with a heavy- 
growth of vines keep well, while those gathered from 
plantations imperfectly matted, with white sand visible 
through the vines, are more disposed to soften, and rot 
early. This is, perhaps, owing to the reflected heat from 
the sand, together with' the direct heat of the sun, ripen- 
ing them too rapidly. Little spots, apparently the result 
of heat, may frequently be seen upon tlie sides of these 
berries, and when thus affected, they should be sent to 
market at once, as they will not keep long. As a rule, it 
is always best to sell cranberries grown upon young plan- 
tations, or on vines not well matted, as soon as they are 
sufficiently colored. This spotting of the fruit is not 
wholly confined to meadows thinly set, but may, at times, 
hs seen upon berries produced amid the rank growths of 
natural bogs, especially when the weather is very hot at 
the time of ripening. 

Cranberries free from spots, and carefully handled to 
prevent bruising, will keep well in places suitable for 
storing apples or other fruit, with (fs low a temperature as 
possible and yet ai' old freezing. Thorough ventilation 
is also very essential ; hence, for keeping, the bushel 
boxes, previously described, are preferable to barrels; for 
the reason that they permit the air to circulate freely. 

The sun's rays have a softening influence if allowed to 
shine upon cranberries after they are picked ; as was illus- 
trated by an individual who stored some berries in open 
bins, upon a shed floor ; the sun, being allowed to shine 
through a small window upon them, caused a portion to 
decay very rapidly. 

In another instance, a lot of fine berries \\ ere put in 



92 



CRAXBERRY CULTURE. 



bus! 1 el boxes, and placed for a few weeks on a porch 
opening to the south. Those in the rear, which were 
protected, kept well, while the berries that were in front, 
exposed to the sun, rotted badly. 

Some years ago, it was thought that cranberries could 
be kept on a large scale iu a stream of clear running 
water. To try the expei'inient, we ])nt a half-bushel of 
berries in a slatted box, and secured them soou after pick- 
ing, in a stream of the pure amber-colored water so com- 
mon in the pine region. 

These berries were picked from young vines, and would 
have rotted early in the open air; but when they were 
taken from the water, about the middle of May, we found 
them still fit for immediate use, although entirely too soft 
for shipping. It was found, filso, that a gelatinous sub- 
stance had formed among them, which was difficult to 
wash out. 

They may be profitably kept for family use by placing 
them in stone jars with pure water. Wooden vessels 
should not be used for this purpose, as they impart an 
unpleasant flavor to the fruit, unless tlie water is changed 
frequently, 

Joseph Hinchman has adopted a novel method of 
keeping cranberries in large quantities, and it is said to 
answer a good purpose. 

His plan is to put the fruit in large shallow boxes, with 
perforated bottoms ; these boxes are then stored in tiers, 
and a current of air, made alternately wet and dry, is 
forced up through them by means of a blower, propelled 
by water-power. Blowing a dry current for a few houri^, 
and then moist air for the same length of time, it is 
claimed, has a tendency to prevent decay, and also to red- 
den the light-colored berries. 

Th^ moist current is obtained by allowing a smaU 
stream of water to fall upon the rapidly revolving wings 
of the blower, when it is instantly converted into spray, 



KEEPING. 



93 



or mist, and forced with the air through tlie main pipe 
leading under the berries. 

The coloring process may be assisted, also, by spread- 
ing the fruit four or five inches thick upon a shaded floor, 
and leaving them thus for a few weeks. This fact was 
well known to the enterprising inhabitants of the Pines," 
who were wont to gnther the natural cranberries in an 
unripe condition, in order to secure them before their 
neighbors. The white specimens thus obtained were in- 
variably spread out and colored under an arbor of green 
boughs and leaves, made thick enough to exclude tlie 
sun's rays. 

More or less decay will always result from attempting 
to keep cranberries through 
the winter; and the grower 
who stores for a higher price 
will find it to his interest to 
sort the berries before selling 
them. The sound fruit usually ^ 
becomes well colored by keep- 
ing, and will command the ^ 
highest market price when of- 
fered for sale; while the soft \^ 
berries are generally acceptable p-^. 347^^^^I^^berryTan. 
to the pie makers, at lower rates. 

If they require winnowing previous to sorting, a fan, 
similar to that represented in figure 34, will be found a 
decided improvement upon the grain f m, so commonl / 
used for this purpose. 

Tlie endless apron, A, forming the bottom of the hop- 
per, gradually carries the berries forward, and drops them 
upon the inclined plane, B, from whence they pass to the 
barrel. Motion is imparted to this apron by a belt con- 
necting with the farther end of the fan axle. While the 
berries are passing through the air channel, C, a strong 
current from the blower separates the trash from the fruit. 




94 



CRAXBERKY CULTURE. 



This fan is the invention of James A. Fenvvick, and is 
annually used by liim for cleaning the berries obtained 
from his improved natural meadows. 

Cranberries may be rapidly sorted by allowing them to 
roll down a smooth, shallow, inclined trough. The rotten 
berries, not rolling readily, may be picked out, while the 
sound ones, by reason of their greater firmness, will pass 
on to the receiver below. 

It may not be inappropriate to give some recipes for 
preparing cranberries for the table; since there are many 
who, as yet, hardly know what they are, much less how 
to cook them. 

For instance, a story is related of an Englishman who, 
upon receiving a barrel of cranberries from a friend in 
America, acknowledged the receipt of them, stating that 
" the berries arrived safely, but they soured on the pas- 
sageP We are left to infer that the uncooked fruit was 
served up in cream, a mode not approved of in New 
Jersey. 

Cranberry Sauge. 

Dissoh e one pound of loaf sugar in one pint of water, 
bring to a boil, and add one quart of cranberries. Cook 
about fifteen minutes, or until clarified. 

For Tarts, spread the sauce, when cold, upon shells of 
puff paste. 

Cranberry Jelly. 

Pick a'ld wash the cranberries, and put them over the 
fire, with half a pint of water to each quart of berries. 
Stew them until they are soft, then mash them, and strain 
the juice through a jelly bag; to each pint of juice add 
one pound of loaf, or pulverized white, sugar. Boil and 
skim until a jelly is formed, which can be told by drop- 



KEEPING. 



95 



ping a little in a glass of cold water. If it falls to the 
bottom without mingling with the water, the jelly is done. 
When it is lukewarm, pour it into glasses, and let them, 
stand until the following day; then cover them with 
brandy paper, and paste them closely. 

Pkeserved Craxberries. 

Sort the cranberries, and use only those which are en- 
tirely sound. Take one pound of loaf sugar and one pound 
of fruit. Pour on water enough to dissolve the sugar, 
and cook until clear. Put them up in the manner describ- 
ed for jelly. 

Caxxed Cranberries. 

Stew the cranberries, as for sauce, and, while hot, put 
them in cans, heated in boiling water, and seal them up 
perfectly air-tight. 

Canned cranberries are used extensively on ship board ; 
and during the late " American conflict," a cheap article 
was manufactured for the army, by using half a pound 
of brown sugar to each quart of berries. 

EXPORTIXG. 

Although much has been said concerning the exporta- 
tion of cranberries to Europe, very few have, in reality, 
been sent abroad, owing, doubtless, to the high price 
which the fruit has commanded in this country. 

Boston has, until within a few years, been the head- 
quarters of this fruit; but we learn that, for the twenty 
years previous to 1868, not more than forty barrels had 
been exported from that city. 

One lot, sold at public auction, in Liverpool, in 1867, 
netted the exporter about as much as he could have ob- 
tained at the time in Philadelphia. 



96 



CRANBERRY CULTURE. 



The fact is clearly demonstrated that, should oui- mar- 
kets really become overstocked with cranberries, new 
channels of trade would be opened to drain off the sur- 
plus. But, as yet, the American market is not fully de- 
veloped. 

There are, doubtless, many little towns throughout the 
co'intry, the inhabitants of which are not acquainted with 
t^e cranberry. While the fruit is worth $15 per barrel in 
New York, no one troubles himself to introduce it into 
small places. 

Should one or two abundant crops be followed by low 
prices, the demand would be greatly increased; for the 
reason that there are l iundreds of families, not using them 
at $4 per bushel, who would become purchasers at $2; 
and, in course of time, consider the fruit as a necessary 
item in their stock of winter provisions. 

Several years ago, we were recommended to transport 
our berries across the ocean in tiorht barrels containing^ 
water. But in these days of quick passages, all that is 
necessary is to select good keeping berries^ from well mat- 
ted vines, and ship them in new, dry barrels, well packed, 
to prevent shaking and bruising. 



CHAPTER XI. 

PROFIT AND LOSS. 

The cranberry business is no longer looked upon as 
speculative. It now takes its rank among those legiti- 
mate occupations which make good returns for well be- 
stowed labor ; but, like any other business, to be pursued 
profitably, it must be conducted upon right principles, 
and with stiict attention to details. 



PROFIT AND LOSS, 



Some, from a peculiar know ledge of what ^as required, 
and others, more by good fortune tha i good management 
in selecting a hx'ality, have achieved brilliant results ; 1 ut 
many have failed, and many are now entering the 1)usiness 
who will be (lisap])ointed. Did we herald the successes, 
and pass the failures by unnoticed, we would not be doing 
o\\Y whole duty; yet the failures have not been witliout 
causes, and the principal of these are ignorance and ex- 
travagance, 

A New York firm, operating through an agent, we are 
told, spent twenty thousand dollars in preparing and 
])lanting a cedar swamp bottom near Manchester ; we 
visited the tract in 1S6T, and to us it had the appearance 
of an entire failure. The trouble seemed to lie in the 
sand used in its preparation, iron ore being abundant in 
the vicinity. There are, however, some valuable mea- 
dows in the neighborhood of Manchester. 

Perhaps one of the most successful meadows in this 
State is a " little pond " in Burlington Co., containing 
twelve acres. It has been planted some ten years, and 
we understand that the original cost of "putting it out" 
did not exceed five hundred dollars. In 1869, wo saw 
upon a spur of this pond a patch of vigorous ^ines wliich 
had been in existence at least thirty years, and the pro- 
prietor informed us that he had never gathered from them, 
at one picking, less than one bushel and a half per square 
rod, and sometimes they yielded two bush.ds per square 
rod. 

In another instance, one square rod of the best vines in 
this meadow was staked off, a line drawn around it, and 
the berries carefully jicked; whereupon it was found to 
yiehl six bushels and two quarts, or at the rate of nine 
hundred and seventy bushels per acre. In 1868, three 
acres of this meadow yielded an average of three hund- 
red bushels per acre, and one acre produced a net income 
of §1,800, It is said that $'20,000 have been refused for 



98 



CRANBERRY CULTURE. 



this meadow, which is not remarkable, considering the 
income it produces. 

The figures given above may seem hirge, but we believe 
them to be entirely accurate. They are beyond compari- 
son with the profits of any other agricultural production, 
and have rarely been equalled, even in the cranberry . busi- 
ness, although sensational writers have asserted to the 
contrary. It is a good meadow that averages one hund- 
red bushels per acre annually ; many do not yield half 
that quantity, and yet are quite profitable. 

The cost of preparing the ground ^ aries w^th its loca- 
tion, quality, amount of damming required, etc.; and, at 
best, our estimates would only be approximate. The 
average expenditure for completing one acre, where the 
plow w^ill turn up sufiicient sand, is as follows : 



Original cost of land, say $30.00 

Ditching and damming 10.00 

Turfing, 25 cents per square rod 40.00 

Removing turf (into fences, or otherwise). 25 cents per rod 40.00 

Removing stumps, $2 per day, say.. 15.00 

Levelling inequalities of surface 6.00 

Plowing 3.00 

Harrowing and making drills for vines. . 3.00 

Ten barrels of vines, at $3 . 30.00 

Dropping and covering plants. 8.00 



$185.00 



Expense of weeding 1st year $ 8.00 

. •■ - 2d ' 6.00 

3d 4.00 

4th .... 2.00 

Four years' interest on first cost, at T per cent 51.80 



Total expense at the end of 4th year. $256.80 

PROBABLE RECEIPTS. 

1st year. 1 peck, at $4 per bushel, net profit $ .50 

2d ' 1 bu., " ' " " 3.00 

3d - 8 bn., " " 24.00 

4th 80 bu., " " " " 240.00 



Net receipts at the end of 4th year $267.50 



A meadow of this class should pay for itself in four 



PROFIT AND LOSS. 



99 



years. The crop of the fifth year frequently exceeds that 
of the fourth ; and if the plantation is a iieatli pond, or 
moist basin place, and is flooded during winter, and 
properly managed, it will continue to bear for many 
years. After the fourth year, the expense of weeding will 
be ver}^ little, indeed almost nothing. The vines should 
completely cover the surface, forming a dense mat that 
excludes all other vegetation. 

Where the muck is of sufficient depth to require sand- 
inir, this additional expense will bring the first cost up to 
about $275 per acre; although, in some instances, it has 
required twice that amount to prepare and plant the mea- 
dows and construct the dam. The cost vaiies witli the 
width of the meadow, depth of sand required, etc. 

It is not the most expensive meadows that are most 
profitable ; for instance, one in Ocean County, we are in- 
formed, cost -$800 per acre, and yet is very unpi'oniising. 

First-class meadows, in bearing condition, command 
high prices. Several years ago, S. H. Shreve purchased a 
tract, near Toms River, for $1,000 per acre ; and even at 
this high rate it is said to have paid for itself in three 
years. This meadow was originally a dense cedar swamp, 
and was prepared by clearing away the timber, turf, etc., 
and spreading several inches of sand upon the muck. 
The sand in the vicinity was of a yellowisli color, although 
entirely free from loam. About the year 1863, Restore 
B. Lamb commenced operations upon a heath -pond bot- 
tom near Pemberton. There was but little turf to remove, 
and in three years he finished planting the vines upjon ten 
acres, at a cost of about one hundred dollars ($100) per 
acre. These grew luxuriantly, and, in 1867, when only 
seven acres of the meadow were in full bearing, the yield 
was twelve hundred bushels, w^hich produced a net in- 
come of over three thousand dollars. In 1868, owing to a 
partial f dlure of the crop, the profits amounted to only 
about one thousand dollars. In 1869, the crop was esti- 



100 



CRANBERRY CULTURE. 



mated, early in the season, at two thousand bushels ; but, 
owing to excessive heat, and the ravages of the fruit worm, 
only eleven hundre(?' bushels were gathered. 

When the first edition of this work was published^ in 
1870^ the business of growing cranberries was regarded 
as extremely profitable, and a large amount of capital 
was invested in it. As the acreage extended, the draw- 
backs increased. About the year 1873, the rot or scald 
prevailed to such an extent as to render the business ex- 
tremely hazardous. A few choice locations are compara- 
tively exempt from its ravages, but most of the meadows 
in 'New Jersey are affected. The insect enemies have 
also increased so that it is now probable that all the 
receipts derived from the sale of the fruit would fail to 
pay the expense incurred in purchasing and preparing 
cranberry meadows. 

OHAPTEE XII. 
LETTERS FEOM PEACTICAL GROWERS. 

Chicago, III, Feb, 1th, 1870. 

Dear Sir : — In reply to yours of 22(1, would say, as to 
the culture of our marsh, and the superiority of our ber- 
ries, we think it is owing to the large depth of our peat 
bed. The alluvial soil, deposited every spring by the 
large overflow of several miles, deposits entirely in our 
marsh. We also attribute our success in part to the 
numerous ditches we have ; in all, we calculate from 16 
to 18 miles in extent. 

We keep our vines well flooded during the whiter, and, 
on account of the late June frosts we are subjected to, 
we rarely raise our flood-gates until the 15th of June. 

We are subject to early frosts in the autumn. In 1868, 
we had a very promising crop — estimated at 2,500 bar- 
rels — but o'vincr to the early frosts, only picked about 400 
barrels sound ben ies. 



LETTERS FROM PRACTICAL GROWERS. 



101 



In 1869, the large flow of waters drowned tis out near- 
ly, and the crop was very light. We consider it a pre- 
carious crop, at best. Yours truly, 

S. A. Sackett. 

The cranberry marsh above alluded to is an improved 
natural bog, containing six hundred acres, near Berlin, 
Wisconsin. 

Hyannis, Mass,, Feb. 22, 1870. 

Dear Sir : — I cannot express strongly enough the ne- 
cessity there is for all beginners in cranberry growing to 
procure vines from reliable sources — those which are 
known to be productive, and free from rot. For three 
years past much complaint of the rot is heard among 
growers. The fruit commences to decay about the time 
of ripening, and often destroys the whole crop. Careful 
observers are learning that, while some varieties are sub- 
ject to this disease, others are entirely exempt. 

The profits of cranberry culture are usually large — be- 
yond comparison with any farm crop raised about here. 
I am acquainted with a bog, containing a little short of 
two acres, that has, during the last ten years, yielded its 
owner ten thousand dollars, net profit, or an average of 
one thousand dollars per year, clear profit. 

I am interested in a young bog of 140 rods, and here- 
with give a memorandum of the crops for the three years 
just past : 

1867, gathered 35 barrels, worth $11.00 per barrel $385.00 



1868, 37 12.50 - 462.50 

1869, " 30 10.00 300.00 



Gross receipts $1,147.50 

Expenses each year, gathering and marketing fruit, 
cleaning drains — 

1867 $110.00 

1868 120.00 

1869 100,00 $330.00 

Profits for three years $817.50 



102 



CRAXBERRY CULTURE. 



The original cost of this 140-rod bog was two hundred 
and fifty dollars (250), which cost includes the first cost 
of land, and expenses of hoeing, etc., up to the time of 
the first crop, in 1867. 

Wishing you success with your book, 

I am yours, etc., 

A. D. Makepeace. 

Yarmouth Fort, 3fass., Mb. 2lst, 1870. 

Dear Sir: — The whole story, all that is essential to be 
known, may be comprised in a small compass. 

1st. The soil, or bottom, should be peat, or peaty mat- 
ter. 'No cold springs — a head of water, so that the bog 
can be quickly flowed at any lime. 

2d. Remove all roots and turf down to the peat, where 
it is deep. Cut ditches around the edge of the bog, two 
feet deep, and three feet wide, and others across the bog, 
if required, to drain it. Cover with sand that contains 
no loam (and that will not adhere when pressed in the 
hand), from three to twelve inches deep. Where the peat 
is deep, the most sand is required. Set vines in hills or 
rows, two feet apart. Yours truly, 

Amos Otis. 

Harwirh, Massachusetts, February, 1870. 

Dear Sir: — In reply to yours of the 2d, would say 
that, about twenty-five years ago, I prepared two small 
patches of muck swamp land by clearing ofi* the bushes 
and surface turf, or that containing the roots, then covered 
it some three or four inches with sand and gravel, set out 
the vines, and kept the water within two or three inches 
of the surface. 

The vines grew very slowly, but grass and weeds lux- 
uriantly, and both patches proved an entire failure. 

A few years afterward, I wheeled off* the gravel and 



LEITERS FROM PRACTICAL GROWERS. 



103 



loam from both patches, and put on three or four inches 
of sand and gravel that was entirely free from loam or 
clay; drained so that the water in the ditches was from 
twelve to eighteen inches below the surface, and then set 
the vines, as we usually do, in small hills, of six or eight 
shoots, or pieces, eighteen inches apart each way. The 
vines grew well, and with very little trouble from grass 
or weeds; have had, generally, fair crops, which ccai- 
vinced me that the failure in my first attempt was not on 
account of soil or location, but wholly owing to the wrong 
material used in covering the muck, or mud, and keeping 
the ground too wet. 

My next operation in the way of cranberry culture, and 
the one that has, I think, been the most profitable, or 
paid the best percentage on the original cost of any patch 
in this region, was on a peat swamp of about two acres ; 
the growth upon it was huckleberry bushes, small ma- 
ples, and a kind of low bushes, with us called laurel 
bushes. The soil Avas from one to three feet of turf and 
peat, underlaid with a thin stratum of white sand, then a 
hard pan. The swamp could be drained and flooded 
almost any time from a pond near by. This patch I pre- 
pared as the others before named, putting on the white 
sand taken from the edge of the swnmp and upland. Set 
the vmes, which, by way of accident, proved to be about 
the best vines yet found in this part of the country. They 
grew well, and put out for a fine crop on the third yeai', 
but, while in full bloom, the vine worm made its appear- 
ance. After four or five days, not only the blossoms were 
destroyed, but there was scarcely a green leaf to be seen. 
iTiad flooded it every winter and spring to about the first 
of April, when I let the water ofi'. That was the usual 
time for letting ofl" by the cranberry growers in this vi- 
cinity. So, that year, this patch, as far as crop was con- 
cerned, was an entire failure. About this time, which 
was about 1854-5, the vine, or fire worm, had taken 



104 



CRANBERRY CULTURE. 



almost full possession of all the cranberry yards on tlie 
Cape. After trying v arious experiments, such as sprink- 
ling over the vines with ashes, lime, pepper, tobacco, and 
several other articles with no good results, the growers 
became very much discouraged, and began to feel like 
giving up the business as a failure ; but, in the spring of 
1857, I concluded to try the experiment of keeping the 
water on or over the vines later than usual, and did not 
let it off until the 4th of June, and flooded and let off 
again three times up to the 20th of June, letting the water 
stay on each time from twenty-four to forty-eight hours ; 
the result was the vines were undisturbed by the vine 
Avorm. They put out well for a crop, and, after quite a 
portion of the fruit was eaten by the fruit worm, I har- 
vested about 110 barrels. Those repeated floodings, in 
this case, were to make sure work of it. I don't find it 
actually necessary to flood more than once where the 
water can be kept on until it is warm enough to destroy 
the egg of the vine worm, which is deposited on the under 
side of the vine leaf. I find that the insect takes no note 
of the month, or day of the month, in making its appear- 
ance, but is governed entirely by the temperature of the 
air or water. In a forward spring, in a warm, sheltered 
location, the water may be k^t off earlier than in those 
locations more exposed to the wind, or where the water 
is supplied from cold springs. 

Where we have the means of flowing at pleasure, I 
think it as well to flow soon after picking time, and let 
tlie water off after the hard frosts — here, in Massachusetts, 
about the 20tli, or last of May. The greatest difficulty I 
have to contend with now is an overgrowth of vines. I 
have tried several methods to overcome this trouble, but 
the only one that seems to promise any favorable results, 
is putting on, or among the vines, some two or three 
inches more of sand ; the best way, I find, is to spread it 
on the ice when the vines are flowed in the winter. The 



LETTERS FROM PRACTICAL GROWERS. 



105 



process of floodiDg, and especially of late flooding, does 
something to prevent the ravages of the berry worm, and 
it is at least a partial remedy for this evil, which most 
cranberry growers have to contend with. 

There are several other insects that interfere more or 
less with our cranberry crops, which, as yet, we have not 
been able to fln-l any remedy for; the most destructive, 
and the lea^t likely to be noticed by growers, is a very 
small, orange-colored insect, called the tip-worm, which 
preys only on the new-formed buds at the tip of the 
shoots. This insect is too small to be readily seen, but 
its presence is indicated by two leaves at the top of the 
shoot standing erect, and concaved, or spoon-bowl shaped 
on the inner, or bud side. It seems to do its work in the 
summer, while the berry is growing, and buds forming 
for next year's crop. Very few yards are entirely free 
from this insect. Some can be found in almost every 
cranberry patch, and, in a few cases, they have been 
known to destroy the whole crop. 

There is also a peculiar kind of span worm, of a dark 
brown color, which makes its appearance in swarms, like 
the locusts of Egypt, destroying everything in their way. 
We have a very few patches attacked by them almost 
every season : as vet, wc know nothing of their parent- 
age or habits, except what we witness in their work on 
the vines. They come when the fruit is about setting. 
The worm and the fruit may both be destroyed by flood- 
ing — that is, the worm \^dll drown, and the fruit drop ofi". 

Respectfully yours, 

Zebina H. Small. 

To J. J. TThite : — After nearly twenty years* personal 
experience in cranberry culture, and a favorable opportu- 
nity of observing the practice of other cultivators, I have 
come to this conclusion. For the successful cultivation of 
this friiit the following requisites are necessary : 
5* 



106 



CEAXBERRY CULTUEE. 



First. — A peat or muck soil, free from loam or clav. 
Second. — Clean beach sand for covering the i)eat. 
Third. — A dam and water, to overflow the vines when 
necessary. 

Fourth. — Thorougli drainage. 

TVith all these ad\ antages, apparently, there have been 
some fdlures — without them I know of no one who lias 
profitably cultivated this crop. 

The limit of profitable cultivation of the cranberry 
will probably be found bt^tAveen the thirty-ninth and forty- 
second degrees of latitude. Xorth of this, tiie period b-.^- 
tween the ripening of the berry and frost is too short for 
harvesting the frtiit. Sotith of it. the tempe rat tire is too 
great for properly ripening the fruit. 

Frosted berries are improved for immediate use, but 
will not bear carriage. 

When the fruit is grown, and ripening, exposui'e to the 
suii^ with a temperature of ninety degrees, Fahrenheit, 
scalds the fruit, and renders it worthless. 

Good cranberry ground can be selected with much cer- 
tainty by observing the nattiral growth of vegetation : 
the best are those deep peat bottoms, in which the VThite 
Cedar or Jimiper flourishes. 

Next in value are the hc^ath prnid-. with a thinner muck 
deposit, generally marked by a growth of Gander Bush 
i Cassandro. caly' Vlat'i) \ if these can be flowed with 
brandy-colorc'l cedar swamp watc^r (which derives its 
color from the muck or peat held in solution), they are 
verv little inferior in vaku? to the first. Other s« ils may 
sometimes repay the expense of preparation, but are best 
avoided. 

Good unimprovc'l cranberry soil, without timber, is 
worth from twenty-five to fifty dollars per acre. 

Properly preparing and planting the ground costs from 
one hundred and fifty to five hundred dollars per acre. 

First-class mea^lows, Avith tiiree-year-old vines, have a 



LETTERS FROM PRACTICAL GROWERS. 



107 



market value of about one thousand dollars per acre. 
Some have sold for that price, and repaid the purchaser 
in three years. A few extra meadows have sold for fifteen 
hundred dollars per acre. 

If properly prepared, the expense of keeping a cran- 
berry meadow free from foreign growth is very small — 
averaging, probably, from three to ten dollars per acre, 
per annum. 

Picking is done by hand, and costs fifty cents per 
bushel. Bushel boxes, thorouglily ventilated, and cleated 
at the ends, so that they cannot lie close together, are 
best for preserving fruit that is stored. These boxes cost 
from sixteen to twenty cents each. The fruit, if well 
colored, should be placed in them in the meadow, to avoid 
unnecessary handling ; then carried in a spring wagon, 
and stored in a cool cellar. 

Fruit should be well colored before storing. If not so 
when picked, it should be spread thinly on floors, exposed 
to the light, but not to the sun. 

The market value of cranberries, during the winter just 
past, has ranged from three to seven dollars per bushel. 

Juliustown^ eA, 3mo., 4, 1870. 

Barclay White. 

The following is the experience of Samuel H. Shreve^ 
of Neio Jersey, 

February^ 1867. 
In selecting a site for a cranberry bog, it is first neces- 
sary to ascertain if there be a peat or muck bottom, as, 
without this, our labor will be wasted. The peat should 
be without any mixture of loam or mud, and when taken 
out of the swamp, and dried, should be light and flaky. 
Its depth is not of consequence. In our swamps, it is 
found varying in depth from six inches to fifteen feet, and 
even of greater depths. It rests, generally, upon a coarse 



108 



CRANBERRY CULTURE. 



white sand, and is mostly found of the best quahty in 
cedar swamp bottoms. Its depth can be found by run- 
ning down a pole. 

The next requisite is thorough drainnge, which is 
equally important with the peat. If the swamp or land 
selected cannot be thoroughly drained, so that the water 
can be brought at least twelve inches below the surface, 
it had better be abandoned, no matter how a<ivantageous 
the location may be, how well adapted the peat, nor how 
easily it is flooded. 

Having cleared the swamp of all turf and vegetation, 
smoothed the surface, and thoroughly ditched and drain- 
ed it, it is then ready for the sand. This should be clean, 
coarse, and entirely free from any mixture of loam ; 
otherwise, it ^^ ill pack hard, and prevent the roots of the 
vine from spreading, and from reaching the peat or muck 
beneath. The runners cannot take root, and the plant 
will scarcely extend beyond the hill in which it is planted. 

Without the sand, vines planted upon peat will grow- 
luxuriantly, and may bear one or two crops. The surface 
beco?nes covered with a dense growth of long runners and 
uprights of twice the usual length. The runners become 
woody, and the uprights are soft and flimsy. The pres- 
ence of sand is absolutely necessiiry in the growth of the 
healtliful and fruitful vine. The vigorous, short uprights, 
full of berries, will have, when drawn throusfh the fin- 
gers, a rough, grating feeling, compared Avith the long, 
barren uprights, grown upon pure peat. 

In addition to checking the too luxuriant growth of the 
vine, and aflbrding a requisite element of its proper food, 
the sand, to a very great extent, prevents the growth of 
weeds. The depth of the sand upon the peat should not 
be less than six inches.* 

* When the muck is only one foot thick, two or three inches of sand will be 
found snfRcient. 

J. J. w. 



LETTERS FROM PRACTICAL GROAVERS. 



109 



Imperfect drainage will promote the growth of weeds, 
and check that of the vine. 

Flooding, though not absolutely necessary, is still very 
important. Judiciously managed, it will almost entirely 
protect a bog from the ravages of insects. 

The vines should be set out in the spring, and a little 
more care taken here, than is usual, will greatly advance 
their growth. A bunch of vines is often placed in a hole, 
or furrow, and the sand pressed around them ; and they 
are kept in an upright position, so that the runners have 
a difficulty in reaching the ground. Some little pains be- 
stowed upon the arranging of the roots, and placing the 
vines in an inclining position will be well repaid. 

There are many pieces of low ground in this country 
where there seems to be, naturally, the proportion of sand 
and muck, and where it is necessary only to take off the 
turf and plow the ground to make it ready for tlie vine. 
In other places, after the removal of the turf, the peat is 
of so little depth that the plow will bring up the sand. 

We have, growing wild, in addition to the Bell, Bugle, 
and Cherry varieties, others as well defined, and as valu- 
able. 

Cranberry cultivation is yet in its infancy, and we have 
much to learn concerning it ; and a little observation of 
the great number of bogs that are now making will teach 
us, from the great variety of soils on which they are 
made, and the different methods of making them, valuable 
facts, in many cases, at a heavy expense, to unsuccessful 
cultivators. But of these facts I feel assured ; that a good 
peat bottom, pure sand, thorough drainage, and a proper 
flooding, will instire success. I have never known them 
to fail. Bogs have succeeded with but a part of these 
requisites, and similar bogs have filled. Because vines 
are found growing upon the surface of the water, twenty 
feet from land, where it is several feet deep, it is no reason 
that a bog should be flooded the whole year. Neither is 



110 



CRANBERRY CULTURE. 



the growth of wild vines any indication that the soil there 
is peculiarly adaptcl to them ; nor is their absence any 
argument against the clioice of a swamp. Exposure is of 
no consequence. As compared with Cape Cod, our bogs 
are now cheaply made, less liable to injury from frost, and 
as productive ; our berries are larger, of finer color, and 
of better flavor. 

March 2Sth, 1870. 

The vitality of the cranberry vine is so great that, 
after it has been transplanted four or five years, if the 
season should be favorable, the yield is likely to be very 
great. This fact misleads many, and is the cause of many 
foolish theories. 

3Iany again form theories without ever having seen a 
successful cranberry bog. I mean one that averaged, 
from tlie time it was five years old until it was ten years 
oM, about '20.) bushels per acre for every acre in vines. 

This large yield is not owing entirely to the soil, etc., 
as the following instance will show. Near mine was a 
bog of just five acres. It had never yielded much over 
600 bushels, though it was about seven years old. On 
my recommendation a friend bought it for 86,500. I di- 
rected the care and management of it, an^l the next crop 
was 1,500 bushels. Since then, tlie crop has been from 
1,150 to 1,800 bushels, yearly — an average of over 200 
bushels per acre. The former owner now oflers §10,000 
for the bog. I felt very confident of the result, for the 
vines were of a good variety, the soil and exposure excel- 
lent. 

My bog has never produced S(> large a crop, its largest 
being over 2,000 bushels on T' j., acres, and its average 
about 200 bushels per acre. 

In a few wor^ls I will give you what I consider abso- 
lute requisites : 



LETTERS FROM PRACTICAL GROWERS. 



Ill 



A good, rich muck, entirely free from loam or cl.iy ; 
pure, cleau, white sand; good water; and iirst, last, and 
all tlie time, drainage, drainage, thorough drainage. I 
sometimes think tliat you can almost produce any effect 
upon a cranberry bog by proper drainage. 

There are many other point >i to be attended to, tha 
chief of wliich is the vines. The habits of the vines differ 
greatly. Some appear to grow like trees, throwing out 
uprights from uprights, never taking new roots, but 
yearly increasing the size of the main stems, or runners. 
Others show a stronger disposition to form new roots, and 
seem to drop the old uprights, as new ones grow directly 
from the runners. These are more uniform in their yiehl, 
while the former produce larger crops ; but I believe will 
not live longer tlian about twelve years without resan ding 
or pressing into the earth. 

I am, very respectfully, 

S. H. Shrkve. 

Pemberton, K J., March 21th, 1870. 

Dear Sir : — I received yours of late date a few days ago, 
wishing me to give you my experience in the cultivation 
of cranberries, which, I have no doubt, is similar to the 
experience of other growers whom you have consulted. 
I have been in the business of growing cranberries for 
about twelve years ; and, while all the ground that I have 
planted has ])aid well on the investment, some has not 
succeeded to my expectations, while other has succeeded 
far above them. 

At the time I commenced to cultivate the cranberry, 
it was a new business in this neighborhood. I had to 
gahi knowledge by experience, which is by far the best 
way to acquire it. 

The articles that were written then on the culture of 
cranberries were detrimental to their growth, and calcu- 



112 



CRAXBERRY CULTURE. 



lated to lead the beginner from the laws of nature and 
success in the culture of the fruit. All advocated beach 
sand — so poor that nothing else would grow — and the 
ground well saturated with water in the summer season, 
and flowed in the months of June and July to kill the 
harry worm, all of which is at variance w^ith the proper 
growth of the cranberry. I have found, by experience, 
that they will not grow, to produce mucli fruit, on poor 
sand, unless it is underlaid with muck or peat, so near the 
surface that the vines will have the benefit of it. And 
they will make but slow growth, and produce but small 
crops, unless well drained in summer. And that flooding 
in June or July will eff'ectually kill both berries and 
worms. 

Cranberry bogs can be irrigated, by having water run- 
ning tlirough them in ditches. Irrigation wiW be a benefit 
in times of drouth; but should the water become stagnant, 
the vines will cease to grow; and if it is long continued so, 
they Avill die. 

I have had the best success on muck or peat. Have 
had as good success without sanding as with; both have 
done well when properly drained, yielding from 100 to 
200 bushels par acre, while the savanna land has yielded 
but from 15 to 40 bus ii els per acre. 

In short, I think the success of raising cranberries is 
based on three points, viz. : 1st. Thorough drainage in 
summer. 2d. Plenty of mud or peat, destitute of loam 
or clay. 3d. Floodhig in winter, to kill the vine worm. 
Hoping this may meet your views, 

I remain your Friend, 

Theodore Budd. 



INSECTS INJURIOUS TO THE CRANBEKRY. 



113 



APPEXDIX. 

INSECTS IXJURIOUS TO THE CRAXBERRY. 

Report of sVilUam C. Fish to the Cape Cod Cranberry 
Growers' Association in 1869. 

It will be necessary for us to understand, at the outset, 
the different stages through which nearly all true insects 
pass before arriving at maturity. As an example, we will 
first consider the life of the 

Vine Worm. 

These Avorms hatch somewhere about the 20th of May, 
from eggs that have remamed upon the vines all winter. 
These eggs are a flat, circular scale, of a honey-yellow 
color, and measure about 0.3 of an inch. Just before it 
is time for the egg to hatch, the black head of the young 
worm can be seen through the skin with the naked eye. 

When hatched, the young worm immediately finds its 
way to the end of the young shoot, and commences to 
feed upon the tenderest leaves, drawing some of them to- 
gether with its w eb for shelter. It is, at this time, of a 
pale yellow color, with a black head. In this way they 
continue to work, drawing more leaves together, and 
feeding first on the tenderest parts, and then upon the 
older leaves. When very numerous, by the time they 
are fiill grown, they will have eaten most of the leaves 
and tender shoots, leaving very little except dry stems. 

They attain their full size in about two weeks from 
hatching, and are then about 0.45 of an inch in length, 
having become of a dull yellow-green, with a black head. 

It now prepares to pass from the larva to the pupa 
stage of existence by spinning a slight cocoon among the 



114 



CR AXBJERE Y C ULTU K E . 



dead leaves, or among: the litter at the surface of the 
ground, and within this tiie worm becomes a pupa, or 
chrysalis, as it is sometimes called. This pupa is about 
0.25 of an inch in length, and is light brown. 

Remaining quier in this state for from ten to thirteen 
days, the pupa works its way partly out of the cocoon, 
the skin splits, and the moth escapes. The insect having 
become a moth (or miiler is the common name has ar- 
rived at its perfect, or imago state, and its mission now is 
to lay eggs for another brood of worms. 

These moths were numerous in Eastham from the 10th 
of June until about the f r-t of July. The eggs were de- 
posited on the uu'ler si^le of the leaves. 

It was a commo:i theory tijat the eggs were laid in 
the bud but I have never been able to find one there, 
and have yet to meet with the person that found the eeg 
on that part of the iilant : therefore, I am forced to con- 
clude that it was only theory. I have seen hundreds of 
the eggs, and noA^er one btit it w;is on the under side of 
the leaf. 

This moth is mo>t active in the afternoon, nnd just at 
eve. The CLi'gs that are lai'i in June hatch sometime 
about the 4th of July, and the insuct passes ti rr-ugh the 
same sta2:es of existence as before, moths coming out in 
August, and laying eggs on trie vine. These cq-o-s ren^ain 
on the \ines all winter. A very few may hatch in Sep- 
tember, but I have never succeeded in finding more tiian 
three or four in that month. The first brood is not usu- 
allv so numerous as the second : but tiiis year the first 
brood visited the bog of Mr. Xathanitl Robbins, of Har- 
wich, and completely strij^ped the vine<. eating everything 
tiiat it could eat. I visited liis bog on the '2Sth of June, 
and I never saw the second brood do more than this first 
brood did. I think this bog was under water until the 
first of June. 

At Sandwich, on the 16th of July, there were vine 



INSECTS IXJIKIOUS TO THE CRAXBERRY. 



115 



worms of the second brood nearly full g^rown upon one 
bog, while upon anotiier, several miles away, the millers 
were just laying their eggs for the second brood. 

Water is, and probably always will be, the most ef- 
fective agent in destroying this insect. Those that have 
this convenient will find it best, I think, to ti«)w their bogs 
once or twice between the 10th of May and the Tth of 
June — that is, if they let off the water eaiiy in the spring. 
If they keep on the water until the first of June, it would 
be well to flow two or three times during the month. 

I think it will be difficult to find anything that can be 
readily applied to destroy these insects in their larva, or 
worm state. They live so sheltered within tlie leaver that 
they have drawn together, that it is almost impossible to 
reach them all, except with w ater. 

When they have spun their cocoons, and have been 
changed to chrysalides, I think it doubtful if we can reach 
them with anything. 

I hope that, in time, we shall find some way to entnip 
the millers and destroy them ; or that something will be 
found til at will make the vines offensive, and drive them 
away. 

Knowing that some moths were attracted by a mixture 
of molasses and water. I experimented with that, and 
found that it did not atti'act this niiller. I have had no 
opportunity to test fires, but from what I can learn from 
others, I think that it is an uncertain remedy, at least. 

Many of these millers might be destroyed by catching 
thera in a liand-m t of muslin, and crusliing them. On a 
large bog, this would be tedious ; but on a >mall bog, one 
or two persons could soon catch most of the millers after 
a little practice in handling the net, going over the vines 
about sunset. 

Sawdust, or old rags that have been soaked in kerosene, 
or something else offensive to insects, if scattered about 



116 



CRANBERRY CULTURE. 



among the vines, just as the millers come out, might drive 
them away, although I have not tried ti.e experiment. 

''The Fruit Worm" 

Is placed, by scientific men, in the same family, Tor- 
tricidcTB, as the ^ ine worm, but it is a distinct species. 

It is probable that the most of us are familiar with the 
habits of this insect in its larva state. About the first of 
August, some of the small cranberries will turn prema- 
turely red ; and, on opening them, we find a small yellow- 
gi-een worm feeding upon the inside of the berry. Hav- 
ing exhausted the interior of one, it enters another, and in 
this way desti'oys several before reaching its full size. 

I took the first one this year upon the 21st of July, and 
at this date, August 18th, they are full growm and some 
have left the fruit. The above dates refer to bogs that 
were not flowed in the winter. 

On such bogs, I have always found it hard to find the fruit 
w^orm after the first of September. They travel at night, 
from one cranberry to another. When full grown, they are 
about one-half of an inch in length, and are of a light green 
color, tinged with pink upon the back. The mouth is dark 
brown. They now enter the ground, and just below the 
surface, they spin a close cocoon, covered with grains of 
sand, or other substance, and there change to chrysalides. 

This is as far as I have traced them, as all that I have 
tried to raise for several seasons have died after spinning 
their cocoons. They have to be ke))t over winter, to rear 
the moth, and they do not do well in the house. 

This worm has been considered the same as the " apple 
worm," but it is distinct from that insect. There can be 
no doubt but that it is the larva of a moth, as I have high 
scientific authority for the statement. 

Some have thought that it was similar to the curcu- 
lio, and that the parent insect punctured the fruit and 



INSECTS IXJURIOUS TO THE CRAXBERRY. 



laid its eoror within ; but t])ere is no resembl.ince whatever 
between this insect nnd the curculio, except that they both 
destroy fruit; and there are no facts to prove that the pa- 
rent insect punctures the berry. 

The millers have no instruments, to mv kuowledofe, 
with which they could pierce the skin of a cranberry. 

One gentleman has raised " waspish " flies from these 
worms. So have I, after keeping tlie cocoons over winter ; 
but they were ichneumons of two difierent species, para- 
sites that had destroyed the worms, and were, therefore, 
our friends instead of enemies. 

I hope to rear the moth by another spring, and if I do, 
will report to the Association. I watched closely to de- 
tect the moth in depositing its egg, but did not succee< i. 

In the absence of all facts in regard to the moth, the 
most natural theory seems to be that the egg is laid by 
the moth upon the berry just after it sets, and the egg 
hatching, the young worm burrows into the fruit. 

The apple moth belongs to this f imily, and deposits its 
egg upon the apple in the blossom end, the egg hatches, 
and the worm eats its way into the fruit. I hope, in 
time, to learn the facts. During the first half of August, 
the wormy berries examined will have, in nine cases out 
of ten, the hole close to the stem. After the worms get 
larger, the hole will more frequently be on the side. 

I found that by putting the berries under water, the 
worms would come out in a few hours, and that twenty- 
four hours would destroy them. I have tried twelve 
hotirs, and found that to be enough to kill most of them, 
although two or three had their holes stopped so tightly 
that the water did not reach them. It has been remaiked 
by a friend that, where a bog can be flowed, the water is 
usually kept on long enough in spring to prevent these 
insects doing great injury ; but as some are giving up the 
practice of late flowing, it may be foimd advantageous to 
flow some time between the 10th and 25th of August, 



118 



CRANBERRY CULTURE. 



provided it does not injure the berries. I find a diflfer- 
ence of opinion among growers as to the effect that water 
would have upon the berries at that time, and the matter 
could only be decided by experiment. 

At their first appearance, I think it would be useless to 
flow, as at that time the berry is almost completely water- 
tight. 

Mr. Wm. Chipman, of Sandwich, once tried with suc- 
cess strewing ashes over the vines, just as the berries were 
setting. Mr. Joshua Cole, ol Easthara, once tiied tobacco 
water with good eflfect ; he tried it again another year, 
without success. 

It will be necessary for those who experiiuent with such 
things to be well posted in regard to the habits of the 
insects they are dealing with, as a few hours' diflference in 
the time of using any remedy might make success impos- 
sible. 

There is but one other caterpillar that has yet proved 
very destructive to the cranberry, and that is known as 
the 

Black Spax Worm, 

althouo^h it is far from beino' black. 

I first met with this insect at Harwich, August 25th, 
1869, where I saw some that had been taken from the bog 
of Mr. Wm. H. Underwood, where they did much dam- 
age. They also injured the vines of Mr. Nathaniel 
Hinckley, of Marston's Mills. 

I sent some of these span worms that were taken on 
Mr. Underwood's bog to A. S. Packard, Jr., M. D., of 
Salem, who was publishing a work on insects. 

He gives a description of it in his work called "A 
Guide to the Study of Insects," a work that should be in 
the hands of every one who has insects to deal with. 

Dr. Packard says of it : " It is a dull reddish-brown, 



INSECTS INJURIOUS TO THE CKANBERJiY. 



119 



simulating the color of the twigs of the cranberry, and 
is finely lineated with still darker lines. The head is 
speckled with brown, with a conspicuous transverse band 
across the vertex, and two row^s of pale spots across the 
front. Just above the spiracles is a broad, dusky band. 
Beneath the body is paler, with a mesial clear line, edged 
with brown. It is 0.8 of an inch in length." 

This year I have heard from them but once. On the 
3d of August, Freeman Ryder, Jr., of North Harwich, 
sent me a small box, by mail, containing quite a number 
of these span worms, I could not visit Mr. Ryder's bog 
until the next week, and when I did so, I found that they 
had all disappeared. They w^ere not near so numerous as 
on Mr. Underwood's bog, last year. I think that they 
must go just under the surface of tlie ground to change 
to chrysalides. 

Only tw^o of those I received changed to chrysalides, 
and, as yet, the moth has not escaped. The chrysalis is 
0.38 of an inch in length, of a mahogany-brown color, 
quite dark about the head. 

This insect is probably only an occasional feeder upon 
the cranbeiry, for if this plant was its only food, we 
should find it every year upon the bogs. It has been 
suggested to me that the European House Sparrow^ might 
be made useful if this insect should ever become very 
numerous. If it would hunt out the vine worms also, 
and catch the millers as they come forth, it would be a 
very valuable friend. 

The common Blue Bird is one of the greatest destroyers 
of small caterpillars and worms, and should be protected 
everywhere. This span worm feeds upon the tender 
shoots, and later upon the older leaves. It spins no web. 

The Cecidomyia, or Gall Gnat, of the Cranberry. 

We now come to an insect very diiferent from those 
before described. 



120 



CRANBERRY OLLTURE. 



If you go over your vines about tlie middle of June, 
and look carefully at the tips of the growing shoots, you 
will notice that some of the small leaves at the end are 
closed together. These leaves have much the same ap- 
pearance as those drawn together by the vine worm when 
it first commences to work in the tip of the shoot ; but if 
you examine them, you will find that there is no web, and 
that tlie leaves have grown out of shape. 

Within some of the smaller leaves, protected by those 
that are closed together, you will find the author of the 
mischief, a small, orange-colored maggot,' without legs, 
and measuring, when full grown, but about 0.6 of an inch 
in length. 

This maggot, when it first hatches, is white, but its 
color increases as it grows, until, when full grown, it is 
orange. 

By the 30th of June, most of thorn will have spun a 
little oblong cocoon within some of the small leaves at 
the end of the shoot. This cocoon resembles white tissue 
paper, and within can be found the orange colored pu]ia. 
In this state it can readily be distinguished from the 
maggot by the blunt head, whereas, in the mnggot, both 
ends are tapering. 

After remaining in the cocoons about twelve days, the 
perfect insect, a gnat, comes forth. This gnat is 0.4 of an 
incli in length, its body is orange, and its wings transpar- 
ent. This gnat lays the eggs for another brood of mag- 
gots. The egg of this insect is unknown to me, the 
insect being so small, that the egg must be quite minute. 

The maggot only works among the minute tender 
leaves at the end of the young shoots. They have no 
jaws, and " must suck in the sap and moisture through 
the mouth, or absorb it through the skin. They make no 
excrement." 

This insect first came under my observation in June, 
1866, at Sandwich. It was very abundant at that placCo 



INSECTS IXJUKIOUS TO THE CKAXBEUKY. 



121 



This year I went over the snme bogs, and found it scarce. 
It seems to be widely distributed over the Cape, as I have 
not failed to tind it on every bog I have visited. 

There is a little Chalcis fly that is a parasite upon this 
insect, and destroys large numbers. It is doing far more 
than man can to keep this insect under. 

I did not find this maggot numerous anywhere during 
tlie early part of the summer. On the 23d of this month 
I went over the bog of^Mr. Nathaniel Hincldey, of M;irs- 
ton's Mills, and found traces of the insect everywhere ; it 
was too late to find the insects themselves, but in some 
places you could scarcely find a shoot but liad been 
checked by the maggots. 

The efft?ct of the occupation of this maggot of the tip 
of the shoot can be readily seen. The minute leaves and 
tender tip are killed, and the growth is stopped. If the 
shoot is strong, it may put out a shoot at the side, and 
this may, in turn, be checked. 

I have seen a shoot start the third time, although, most 
frequently, they do not grow more, but form buds, from 
which start side shoots next year. 

Mr. Hinckley and myself searched in vain for a side 
shoot with fruit on it. I have seen them with fruit, but 
rarely. 

In June, I tried to drown some of these maggots, and 
as they moved after remaining under water fourteen days, 
I gave it up. Later in the season, I met with Mr. Calvin 
Crowell, of West Sandwich, who informed me that he 
had saved some of his vines by flowing ; that after his 
bog had been flowed, he noticed that some of the shoots 
came right up between the leaves that were misshaped, 
proving that something had removed the insect. The 
only way that I could account for it was that the water 
might have washed out the maggots, and, they being 
without legs, could not get back to the end of the shoot. 
Since then, I have seen some things that led me to think 
6 



122 



CKAXBERRY CULTURE. 



that such was the case. On Mr. Hinckley's bog I noticed 
numbers of these shoots that plainly showed that the in- 
sect had commenced its work, but had been removed, as 
the shoot kept right on. On inquiring, I found that Mr. 
Hinckley had flov\^ed his bog on the 26th of June. This 
was, I think, ratl^er late to hit most of them, but it proba- 
bly washed out some. 

After the insect has spim its cocoon, it is impossible 
either to wash it out or to drown it. Recently, I placed a 
shoot in water that contained two of these maggots ; they 
were all I could find to experiment with. One of the 
two washed out, the other remained. 

Probably flowing would prove more efl*ectunl when the 
maggots are quite small, as the leaves do not close to- 
gether very tightly until the maggot is nearly full grown. 
I hope it will be seldom that the bogs have such a visita- 
tion as the bog of Mr. Hinckley received. If any of the 
members of the Association wish to see w-hat the insects 
can do when numerous, they had better visit this bog. 
Had I known that they were so numerous there during 
the early part of the summer, I should have been glad to 
have been upon the ground, to see what restilts would 
follow flowing when the maggots first commenced their 
work. It would be a good plan to flow when the parent 
gnat is out. Some might be bred in the house, and then 
one would know exactly when they were out. It is usu.'dly 
some time about the 4th of July that the gnat comes forth. 

This first brood is the most numerous, although there 
are other broods as long as there are growing rimners. I 
found a few of these maggots in September, 1868. 

I am not aware that this insect has ever been described 
by scientific men. I have, at dififerent seasons, sent them 
to some of my scientific correspondents, but I cannot 
learn that they have published any description of it. 

It is a true Cecidomyia, closely related to the minute 
Hessian-fly, that is so destructive at times to wheat. 



INSECTS IXJUKIOUS TO THE CRAXBERRY. 



128 



I have searched many works relating to the Hessian- 
and Wheat-flies, hoping that some of the remedies that 
were used against those insects Avould answer for our gall 
gnat. Strips of woolen cloth, dipped in melted brimstone, 
and fastened to sticks in different parts of the field, and 
particularly on the windward side, are set on fire for sev- 
eral evenings in succession, at the time the gnats are de- 
positing their eggs. This has been efficient in the case 
of the Wheat-fly, and, if thoroughly tested, it might do 
good in the case of some of our insects. 

The minute Chalcis flies that sting the maggot, and 
deposit their eggs within it (which hatch, and then we 
have a maggot within a maggot, the inside one having 
the advantage, and kiUing its host), are doing a great 
w^ork ; and the Ichneumons, that w^ork in the same way 
upon the fruit and vine worms, are doing mucli to pre- 
vent their increase. I have seen large numbers of dead 
vine worms tliis season destroyed by these parasites. 

In closing my re]3ort, I wish to thank the members of 
the Association, and the cranberry growlers generally, for 
the aid which they have given me, and for kindnesses 
which they have shown me at all times, during the three 
months that I have been engaged in these investigations; 
and if my report will induce the growers to study the 
habits of these insects themselves, and become acquainted 
with them, in a word, to become their own entomologists, 
I shall feel that the time which I have spent in the study 
of these insects has not been in vain. 

A K"ew \"ixE"W0r:^— Gelechia. 

A new vine-worm has recently attacked the Cranberry 
meadows of IVew Jersey. It is described by ilr. J. H. 
Brakeley as follows : The Gelechia is a small moth 
of a dusky white color, with brown or chocolate-colored 
markings. It expands its wings about one-fourth of an 



124 



CEA]S"BEEKT CULTURE. 



inch. The larva is in general appearance^ like that of the 
Tortrix, and a very little smaller. The chrysalis also is 
similar. The flight of the moth is quite rapid^ and the 
quick motion of its wings in flight give it the appearance 
of a fly ratlier than that of a moth. There are bat two 
broods in the year. The first brood of larv^ come from 
the eggs laid in the preceding August^ which remain on 
the vines during the winter ; the larvse make their ap- 
pearance soon after the removal of the water in the 
spring. The eggs are about one-fiftieth of an inch in 
diameter, and maybe found on the under side of the leaf. 
From one to two weeks from the time the water is drawn 
from the bog, the presence of the young larvse may be 
detected by the two terminal leaves of the vine being 
drawn together and fastened by a web. As these leaves, 
when drawn together, expose their under or lighter sides, 
it is readily noticed. As this occurs before the vines 
have commenced growing, they devour the bud and then 
the leaves, and, as they increase in size, draw together 
several uprights of the vines, the same as the larvte of 
the Tortrix. In a short time most of the leaves will be 
eaten up, and little will be seen except the old, dark- 
looking vines. After attaining their growth, they pass 
into the chrysalis state, and the moths appear early 
in June, two or three days before those of the Tortrix. 
These will spread themselves over other portions of the 
bog, seeking pastures new'' on which to deposit their 
eggs for the second brood of larvae. This brood appears 
in July, and continues the work of destruction up to or 
past the middle of the month ; they then pass into the 
chrysalis state, and are followed by the second brood of 
moths early in August. When the eggs of these moths 
are deposited upon the vines, their work for the year is 
completed, and they gradually disappear, none of them 
surviving the winter." 

The remedy for the ^^Gelechia" is to submerge the 



INSECTS IKJUEIOUS TO THE CRAXBEHEY. 



125 



•infestecl Yines several times after taking the water off in 
the spring. Tiie water slioulcl be put on every ten days 
during the month of May, and allowed to remain ten 
hours. This treatment allows the eggs to hatch, and 
the young worms are quickly drowned. Yv^here water is 
scarce, defer flowing until late winter, thus exposing the 
eggs to severe cold, which is thought to destroy them.* 

The Scald on Rot. 

In an essay on this subject Mr. J. A. Fenwick says : 
"When Cranberries on the vines are softened and become 
semi-transparent, or like partly cooked berries, it has 
become common to say that they are scalded." This 
softening does .sometimes result from water covering 
them, and becoming hot and stagnant, but it generally 
occurs in a dry tim_3, without water, and it is a misnomer 
to call it a scalcl. This roasting, rather than scald, 
which has destroyed the crop of berries so very much for 
a few years past, has been most destructive at the time of 
gathering the crop, or shortly before, the fruit as it ap- 
proaches ripening being more sensitive to a high tempera- 
ture. Only in extreme cases do large spaces in August, 
or before that, become generally softened while they are 
yet green, but have obtained some size. The effect of high 
heat is to produce spots in the fruit, the inner structure 
being disorganized, as shown by transparent spots, which 
grow larger on a repetition of the heat, particularly in 
muggy, wet weather, either on the vines or after being 
picked ; but some fruit in fair weather will dry up and 
the rest of the berries remain sound. 

^^The effect of high temperature, when the fruit has 
but just formed, or until it is of some size, is to dwarf 
it, leaving it at picking time but little la^^ger than it was 
when the blossom dropped from it* 



* Since the above was in type, Mr. White informs us that the insect is Anchy- 
loinra vaocirdaruL, Packard, for several" years destructive in New En gland. —Ed. 



126 



CRANBERRY CULTURE. 



These facts being admitted^ it would be wise not to 
advance southward with this cultivation. If the ber- 
ries will soften here occasionally and partially with high 
temperatures at picking time, when the fruit is fully 
colored, we of course could advance to some point south 
of this, where the berries would be colored in the hot 
weather, and as a result, be softened every season. Con- 
sequently, I believe this cultivation will be prevented 
from advancing very far south of the State of New Jer- 
sey, unless it should be in elevated mountain districts. 
To the northward, we would reach a point at which the 
coloring of the fruit to perfection, and the time for freez- 
ing weather, would come together; hence the berries would 
always be frozen soft before picking if they were left until 
they were colored. In my judgment this culture cannot 
extend beyond 45° of north latitude. 

^^The only thorough and complete remedy which we 
have for this scald, is irrigation through the means of fre- 
quent ditches. A patch meagerly covered with vines would 
in time be partially remedied by the production of a dense 
covering, or perhaps by the application of manure to a 
poverty-stricken soil, to encourage the growth, of a cover- 
ing of the ground. An increased quantity of ditches, in 
a bog considered too dry to need them, may also assist 
in preventing scald, as the vines would root deejDer, 
and consequently would not suffer with a severe drouth. 
These, with a judgment to select a soil and situation 
which has the requisite moisture with drainage, are the 
only means that I can think of to prevent this trouble. 

These conclusions are the result of a number of ob- 
servations of the weather for the past fifteen years, and 
some of these I shall enumerate and comment upon to 
show, in a measure, how they were derived. 

''1 have seen Cranberries in an open-top glass jar, 
good, sound fruit, one half softened from the effect of 
the sunlight, which shone through a windov/ upon that 



IXSECTS INJURIOUS TO THE CEAXBERRY. 



127 



half. The other half, where the sun did not reach, 
were left sound. Good sound berries, picked and left 
standing in the sun, in a box or barrel, on hot days will 
soften upon the top. The sun's rays shining through a 
window on berries stored in a building, will sof fcen them 
wherever the direct rays fall upon them at mid-day, or if 
the thermometer reaches seventy-five in the shade at the 
time, they will become soft. 

^^The evidence is positive that berries exposed to the 
sun's rays, at the time the temperature is at eighty or 
more in the shade, will be softened ; that is, if they are 
picked. But if the vines are suffering from drouth, and 
fail to supply the fruit hanging upon them with mois- 
ture, is not the effect in cutting short the supply the 
same as if we pick the berries ? It is evident that, at 
high temperatures, the fruit evaporates water from its 
skin, and this, carrying off caloric in a latent form, keeps 
the internal structure cool, and so prevents the disor- 
ganization of its parts. It is evident also, that moist 
surfaces of ground must be cooler than dry ones, and 
the berries growing upon them will be at a lower tem- 
perature from the evaporation of its moisture. 
. ^^Let us suppose a bog with frequent ditches, and the 
water kept at a uniform depth from the surface in every 
part, and a ' Scald ' comes on ; the fruit on some parts 
of it may be softened, and on others not. I have ex- 
amined the sub-soil in places where the fruit was soft- 
ened, and it was coarse gravel, for this or some other 
reason, it was unable to raise the moisture to the sur- 
face by capillary attraction, and had acquired a higher 
temperature at the surface where the soft berries were 
than elsewhere. 

^ I have seen the berries soften on surfaces black with 
shallow layers of muck, while a few feet from, them, on a 
surface of white sand, berries nescaped, the sub-soil being 
the same in both places. A thermometer placed among 



128 



GEA^s^BERKY CULTURE. 



the Tines on the blackened surface^ indicated 8° higher 
than on the whitened one. I have found that fruit, 
picked from yines that do not hide the ground^ is 
unsound. It has been so for many years in my experience. 

A few years since, about the first week in September, 
I yisited, before daylight in the morning, a natural bog, 
with a heayy crop of fruit, and found the yines and fruit 
eyerywhere coyered with frost ; but an hour or two 
after sunrise, on some parts of the bog, the fruit was 
softened, and on others not. Where the soil was sandy, 
and the yines comparatiyely short, with the fruit exposed 
to yiew, and the weather, there were no softened berries. 
But when hidden from yiew by grass, on raud bottom, 
and where there was a mulch of old grass, and there were 
yines between the soil and fruit, the berries were softened. 
The same thing was noticed on several other occasions ; 
I can only explain it by supposing that sand, with less 
mulch upon it, was a better conductor of caloric than 
the mud, with its heayy mulch. The fruit oyer the sand 
began to thaw first, from the warmth of the earth, and 
increased warmth of the day. The thawing was done 
slowly, and the berries were not softened, but no thawing 
was done on the muddy and heayily mulched ground 
until the direct rays of the sun shone upon the berries, 
and thawed them rapidly enough to break up their struc- 
ture. By sanding yines subject to softening by frost, the 
trouble has been in a great measure preyented. 

I haye seen fruit with the defectiye spots dried up, and 
appear not to spread ; not unlike the dry, rotten spots in 
apples ; and I feel that the rapid spread of the scald is 
caused by the moist, rainy weather, acting on berries 
rendered defectiye by the previous drouth. This would 
explain all 'the loss that occurred after the rains began^ 
except on those bogs that were coyered by water. 

^'In June last, I set two women at work picking 
three rov\^s of gooseberries in my garden. These rows 



NEW JERSEY STAN^DARD PACKAGES. 



129 



were about ninety yards long^ sloping downward from 
some large trees at the top of the garden to moist land 
at tlie bottom. The soil is good, rich sand, that produced 
annually good crops of vegetables. The pickers began 
at the top near the trees, at seven o'clock in the morning, 
each taking a row, leaving one row unpicked ; by eleven 
o'clock, they had picked two-thirds of the way down the 
two rows, and by that time the fruit on the upper end 
of the remaining row was softened^ half way down it by 
the heat and drouth, the thermometer standing at 90° in 
shade at the house. The parts of the rows on the lower 
or moister end were not softened. The softened goose- 
berries appeared very similar to the softened cranberries, 
and it struck me at once that they were made soft from 
exactly the same causes. That is, extreme high summer 
temperature, with an absenoe of the necessary moisture 
for the functions of the plant producing them, and per- 
haps the light in the direct rays of the sun," 



NEW JERSEY STANDARD PACKAGES. 

The standard cranberry packages of J^ew Jersey are of 
the following sizes : 

Boxes or Crates — Bushel, 8'/^ xl2x22 inches, inside 
measure. 

Barrels, inside measure — Diameter head, 16'/^ inches ; 
diameter bilge, ISy^ inches ; depth, 2dy^ inches. 
Heads should be made of seasoned material only. 



INDEX. 



Alluvial formation 25 ' 

American Cranberry. . 7 i 

Amphicarpum Purshii 5S | 

Analysis of Cranberry 10 | 

Appendix .....113 ; 

Arctostaphylos Uva-Ursi IS \ 

Ashes. ..... 63 j 

Bear-berry is | 

Bell Cranberry 12 i 

Bill-hook . . 36 

Bishop, N. H. ,30 

Budd's, Theodore, Letter Ill 

Biig-le Cranberry 12 

Canned Cranberries 95 : 

Cassandra calyculata 30 ■ 

Cherry Cranberry 12 | 

Choice of Locations... 25 ■ 

Clean Surfaces necessary. 48 ] 

Color of Cranberries....... 14 

CoA'erins: by Sand 56 

Cranberry. American T | 

" Analysis of 10 [ 

Bell.! 12 

Bugle 12 

Cherry 12 

Hiu-h IS 

High-bush IS • 

Hog IS 

Jelly 04 

Large 7 

" ]\Iountain IS 

" . On Upland 17 

Sauce 94 

Small 7 ; 

*' Spice S I 

Varieties of . . . 12 ' 

Cuttings, Sowing 56 

Dams.. 65-67 

Double-seeded Millet 58 

Drift Formation 27 

130 



Drainage . , 58 

Drains . . 38 

Embankments 70 

Enemies and Difficulties overcome. 71 

Excessive Heat 82 

Exporting .... 95 

Fan. Cranberry 93 

" Portable..... S6 

Feather-leaf. 30 

Fences 45 

Fen wick. Jas. A 73-74 

Fertilizers 02 

Fires 45 

Fish's. W. C. Report 113 

Flood-gates 69 

Flooding (>4 

Fork for Fence Making 46 

Frosts ^ SO 

Gander-bush ' 30 

Grass S3 

Ground Laurel 30 

Grouse Berry 18 

Gum-tree 30 

Hail. C;;pt. Heniy 21 

Heath Ponds 29 

Preparing. ........... 41 

High-bush Cranberry IS 

Hiiih Cranl^erry IS 

Hil! Pianiing 51 

Hisrorr of Cultivation... 19 

H02: Cranberry IS 

Horsford's. Prof. E. X.. Analysis.. . 10 

Hunt. J. Gibbons GO 

Insects 

Anchylopcra vacciniana 75 

Black Span-Worm US 

" Cecidomyia 

Crickets 

Fruit- Worm ... .T 1-11 'i 

" G:^.ll-Gnat 119 



CRANBERRY CULTL'RE. 



Insects. Grasshoppers 79 

Spaii-woim S4 

Tip-worm S3 

Vine- worm 74-113-123 

Kalmia aiigustifolia 30 

Keeping 91 

Laarol. Grcimd 30 

Large Crauberry 7 

Leather-leaf 30 

Letters from Practical Growers 100 

Levelling 06 

Lime 6:5 

Locations, Choice of -25 

Makepeace's. A. D., Letter 101 

Management of Meadows 57 

Marl ........ 63 

Meadows, Management of 57 

Mice 80 

Mill-ponds 33 

Preparing 48 

Moss as 

Mountain Cranberiy 18 

Muck 26 

Mud as a Fertilizer 63 

Miiskrats SO 

Natural Bogs. Improvement of. 61 

Natural History 7 

Nyssa raulti flora 30 

Otis', Amos. Letter 102 

Packard. A. S 75 

Peck Box 86 

Peruvian Guano 03 

Phinney, S. B 21-27 

Picking 85 

Pines of New Jersey 45 

Planting by Pressure 54 

in Drills 52 

" in Strips 48 

Hill... 51 

Sod 51 

the Vines 50 

Pointsett, John 40 

Polytrichum commune 44 



[ Position of Vines 

I Preparing the Ground 

I Preserved Cranberries 

; Profit and Loss 

; Rushes 

Sacketts', S. A.. Letter 

Sanding 

Sand, Test for 

Savannas 

Scalding 82-12 

j Scalping 

Seed Sowing 

Sliinn & Allston 

Shreve's, S. H.. Letter 

Small Cranberiy 

Small's. Zebiua H.. Letter, 

Sod Plan tin 

Sphagnum Moss 

Spice Cranberry 

Stable Manure 

Swamp Lands 

Swamps, Preparing 

Tickets 

Tree Moss 

j Trenching for Sand ..... 
\ True Cape Cod Variety 

Turf Cutter 

Turf Fence 

Tui'fing . . 

' Unfruitful Vines 

! Upland Cranberries 

Upland Cranberry 

Uplands 

Uva-Ursi 

Vaccinium macrocarpon 
! " Oxycoccus.. 

Vitis-Idjea. . . 

Viburnum Opulus 

Want of Money 

Webb. John. 

Weedinsr 

White's. Barclay. Letter- 
; Willow Farm 



The American Agriculturist 

FOR THE 

Farm, Garden, and Household. 

Established iu 1842. 

The Best aiift Clieapst AgMlnral Journal in tlie forll 

SUBSCRIPTION TERMS: 
$1.50 a year (postage included); Single numbers, 15 cents. 

AMEHIKAITISCHEII AGRICULTURIST. 

The only purely Agricultural German paper in the United States, and the 
best in the v/orld. It contains all of tlic principal matter of the English Edition, 
together with special departments for German cultivators, prepared by writers 
trained for the work. Terms same as for the American Agriculturist.'* 

BOOKS FOR FARMERS AlTD OTHERS. 

Send six cents for our new handsomely illustrated and descriptive Catalogue 
of Books on all branches of Agriculture, Horticulture, Architecture, etc. All 
books comprised in this Catalogue will be mailed pre-paid on receipt of tho 
price named. Our abridged descriptive Catalogue of Books will be sent free on 
application. 

Books on Ont-Door Sports and Pastimes. 

Send five cents for our new and elegantly gotten up Sportsman's Com 
PANicN, containing brief descriptions or outlines of nearly one hundred and 
eighty works upon legitimate Out-door Sports and Amusements, and illustrat- 
ed with a great number of engravings, many of them drawn from life, an:i 
faithfully portraying the points and characteristics of game, birds, fishes, 
horses, dogs etc., etc. 

ORANGE JUDD COMPANY, 

DAVID W. JUDD, PresH. SAMUEI BUENHAM, Sec. 

751 BKOADWAT, NliW TOf6K. 



LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 




QDDQTlfi3711 



